The modern flush toilet was invented in 1596 by an English gentleman called Sir John Harington. His design was called Ajax, and it contained insults to the Earl of Leicester, a close friend of Queen Elizabeth I. His design was made of two parts, a tank and a valve that sucked water down and flushed it out. Harington later installed a working version in his home in Kelston, Massachusetts, and at Richmond Palace, the home of Queen Elizabeth I.
Thomas Crapper
Many people don’t realize that Thomas Crapper, an American inventor, actually invented the flush toilet. This innovative plumbing system prevents sewer gas from flowing back into the house during a toilet flush by creating a water trap in the flush pipe. Crapper also invented the manhole cover, a feature that is still widely used today. The company Crapper founded continues to manufacture toilets today. Read on to learn more about Crapper’s inventions and how they work.
In the 1850s, Thomas Crapper was an engineer who designed and built toilets. He was 11 years old when he walked from England to London to get inspiration from the city. Crapper later patented the u-bend and floating ballcock that helped stop the flow of water when the tank is full. The flush toilet was first invented by Thomas Crapper, but the concept was developed by several other inventors.
Thomas Crapper was born in 1836 in Yorkshire. His precise birthdate is unknown, but he was baptised on 28 September 1836. He worked as a journeyman plumber for three years, earning a master plumber’s certificate in the Chelsea area of London. In 1853, he began an apprenticeship with George Jennings, a plumber. This was two years after Jennings’s patent was issued and two years before the king of England’s first military hospital was constructed.
Alexander Cumming
In 1795, Alexander Cummings patented the flush toilet. This innovative toilet design had a spout below the bowl that kept sewer gas from escaping. It was later improved by Joseph Bramah, whose name became an English slang term for good things. By the late nineteenth century, flush toilets had become a staple in wealthier homes. They were also just in time for the dramatic growth of sewer systems.
The flush toilet is the latest invention made possible by the Scottish watchmaker Alexander Cumming. The s-shaped plumbing system that he invented is still in use today. It prevents sewer gases from entering buildings. Despite Cumming’s invention, the s-trap design is one of the most vital features of modern toilets. But it wasn’t until the mid-nineteenth century that the flush toilet was perfected.
After the invention of the flush toilet, Cummings continued his work in the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering. He was a member of the Royal Society and a fellow of the British Royal Society. His inventions contributed to the advancement of medical, engineering, and natural knowledge. Cummings is considered the father of the flush toilet and was a highly respected scientist and inventor. But it was a common practice in those days to rely on a manual toilet, as it is difficult to buy one that has no water pressure.
Alexander Cumming’s invention
A Scottish watchmaker and inventor, Alexander Cumming FRSE, was the first person in England to patent a flush toilet design. He was born in 1733 and patented his toilet design in 1775. Cummings improved the design by adding an S-shaped double bend to the waste pipe. This trap retained water permanently in the drain pipe and helped prevent sewer gases from entering the building. Most flush toilets today feature this same design.
During the 1700s, a flush toilet drains its contents into a vault, or large tank that had to be emptied twice a day. This vault stank of sewer gas and had to be dug out twice a day. Fortunately, Queen Elizabeth had staff to empty the vault. But most of us didn’t have the luxury of a palace staff to do it for us. So Alexander Cumming’s invention in 1775 helped change all that. His design included an S-shaped trap that connected the toilet to the sewer system without releasing sewer gases.
In addition to the S-shaped valve that Cummings invented, other inventors contributed to the development of flush toilets. The first flush toilet was made by Alexander Cummings in 1795. It was improved and patented by Joseph Bramah in 1778. These toilets were widespread in wealthy homes by the end of the nineteenth century, just in time for the explosive growth of sewer systems. While the invention of the flush toilet is still considered a breakthrough for modern plumbing, it has long since been a popular product.
Thomas Crapper’s invention
The first modern flush toilet was invented more than two centuries ago. Thomas Crapper took an idea that had already been around and made it more efficient. He marketed his inventions and helped indoor sanitary plumbing gain popularity. However, many people don’t know that the term “crapper” originated from Crapper. The term comes from a Dutch word, “krappen,” which means unwanted waste material.
Many people are skeptical of Thomas Crapper’s contribution to modern hygiene. A book by Wallace Reyburn entitled “Flushed with Pride: The Story of Thomas Crapper” suggests that Thomas Crapper actually didn’t invent the flush toilet. Reyburn, an author famous for writing fictional characters, believed that the real Thomas Crapper wasn’t even born when the invention was first made. However, Thomas Crapper did contribute to plumbing and he held nine patents related to it.
Although Crapper did not invent the flush toilet, he did improve its design and help spread sanitary indoor plumbing. In fact, he was so successful that his name is still inscribed on toilet manhole covers. Several people still associate Thomas Crapper with the invention of the flush toilet. However, there are more than one reason why Crapper’s name is associated with this innovation.
Harington’s invention
The first flush toilet was invented in 1616 by Sir John Harington. It had a two-foot-deep bowl, and was covered with pitch, wax, and resin. Unlike modern toilets, it required 7.5 gallons of water to flush. In his pamphlet, Harington noted that if water was scarce, only about 20 people could use the toilet at a time. Harington’s invention would not be widely adopted until the industrial revolution, and not until the Industrial Revolution.
In his famous book, Sir John Harington described the mechanical design of the first flush toilets and later installed them in royal residences. Today’s flush toilets have three main elements: a water valve in the water closet, a wash-down system, and a seat. Harington invented the valve and wash-down system and developed a satirical tract on toilets. The publication of Harington’s memoir, Sir John Harington: The Invention of the Flush Toilet, Rich and Craig, published in 1985, describes the history of the toilet and the people who embraced it.
After Harington’s original design, however, the flush toilet didn’t take off until the mid-1800s. Other improvements to the flush mechanism followed. Samuel Prosser and Joseph Bramah both improved the design, adding a hinged flap. However, it wasn’t until the late 1800s that water closets were widely used in homes. George Jennings even installed public toilets in London’s Hyde Park in 1851. They were one penny apiece, and included free amenities like a towel, shoe shine, and comb. The Great Stink in 1858, however, fueled demand for modern toilets.
Thomas Crapper’s patent
Many people claim that Thomas Crapper invented the flush toilet, but he didn’t invent the toilet. In reality, the modern flush toilet design dates back to the mid-1600s, when a Dutch engineer invented a ballcock flushing mechanism. However, it is not clear exactly who patented this concept and who used it first. Crapper’s contributions to plumbing are numerous, and his name is still imprinted on manhole covers throughout London.
Many people credit Thomas Crapper with creating the flush toilet, but the actual patent for the device belongs to Albert Giblin, who may not have worked with Crapper. Albert Giblin, an engineer at the same firm as Thomas Crapper, patented this device and marketed it. In 1907, Crapper’s nephew held the patent for the device and it’s currently available on the Internet.
While Crapper’s invention was not the first flush toilet, his contributions to the world of hygienic sanitation went a long way. He founded the company Thomas Crapper & Co. in London and was often credited with the invention of the flush toilet. In fact, Sir John Harington had invented this concept in the sixteenth century, but Crapper’s patent for the flush toilet made his design more feasible.
It’s interesting to note that Crapper was born in Thorne, Yorkshire, on 28 September 1836. Although the exact date is unknown, he is usually celebrated over a week. His father was a sailor, and his older brother, George, became a master plumber in Chelsea, London. Thomas Crapper and his brothers apprenticed at the same company as Jennings and were soon supplying the royal family with thirty lavatories with cedarwood seats.