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| A Victorian toilet from www.itraveluk.co.uk |
Thomas Crapper was known as a savvy salesman
and great at advertising. So, using a gentleman named Albert Giblin’s
design, Crapper built and mass marketed flush toilets. He also
popularized the siphon system for emptying the tank. Finally, Thomas
Crapper slapped his name on anything and everything he was associated with;
manhole covers, toilets, bathrooms – you name it.
Speaking of naming it, some people claim the term “crapper”
(in reference to a bathroom), came from U.S. Soldiers who were deployed in the
U.K. during the first World War. According to lore, these soldiers saw
the word “Crapper” on every door to every bathroom across London and began
calling the room the “Crapper.”
Despite the legend of Mr. Crapper, Alexander Cummings is the
one who’s usually credited with inventing the first flush mechanism back in
1775. In 1853, Joseph Adamson took out the first patent for the siphonic
flush – eight years prior to Crapper starting his plumbing business.
No matter who invented it, or what you call it, be it “The
Crapper,” “The Cummings” or maybe even “The Gilbin”... when it breaks, it
stinks (sometimes literally).
That’s why for all your plumbing issues, there’s BRISTOL
Restoration! And hey, if you call us? You may even get an
interesting history lesson about the work we’re doing!
