maybe you could move the picture over here too -

You have a nice c. 1920's tub.
Sometimes people try to add a wall and tile on the end - it's not very successful, tends to leak.
The solution I've seen that works is a shower bar that turns the corner, and a long shower curtain. The shower rod needs to be connected to the ceiling at the turn, or it becomes wobbly. Renovators' Supply carries them, as well as the round ones that people fit over claw foot tubs.

Jegr,
Thanks for the info about the tub. We are relative neophytes to owning an old home (we've been here 4 years) and love finding out what era different fixtures etc. are from. We've looked at those L-shaped shower curtain rods and were thinking about that option. I had wondered about building a wall on the far end - so, it is helpful to know that there tend to be leaks.

I will look up the magazine ads you talk about!

Here's the post I put on the bathroom forum (including the picture):

Hi All,

We have a grand old 1860s Italianate house with an absolutely atrocious master bath. We are planning a modest remodel hoping to get the most bang for the buck. One issue (of many) that we are facing is that while the tub is not a clawfoot, it was never used for a shower. We'd like to keep the tub but add a shower somehow. We realize that this also means tiling the walls around the tub and doing something at the far end of the tub to make sure that the water doesn't spray into the rest of the room (since the tub is only enclosed on 2 sides). I'd love to hear ideas and see pictures of similar remodels! Here's a pic (don't laugh...we are not responsible for any of the decorating choices).

Google "clawfoot tub add shower" and you'll get lots of hits. You can either open your wall and add the plumbing or you can do it on the outside of the wall. I'd look for a shower curtain ring that will hold 2 curtains forming a circle. That way you could avoid having to tile. Also, there's a book by Jane Powell called Bungalow Bathrooms. There are tons of pictures in it of vintage bathrooms. It's a great source for ideas. Have fun!

Thanks kec01 - we'll look into Jane Powell's book.

We would prefer to keep the original cold/hot/waste valves and put the plumbing in the wall. We talked to a plumber yesterday who said the easiest way to do that would be to have a separate control for the shower and keep the vintage porcelain controls if we used the bath. Has anyone here done this? We are seriously considering it because it seemed like the most affordable option for keeping the old valves.