Giggle factor aside, I'm so glad of Sir Thomas Crapper's sanitary device and the septic removal infrastructure that has saved the industrialized world from countless epidemics of cholera and other waste-borne diseases.
A correction (before others do it). Thomas Crapper, although Sanitary Engineer to a number of Royals, was never knighted. Therefore he does not seem to rate a "Sir". Except in my book.
Some clarifications:
Although Thomas did hold several patents in plumbing, the critical patent for the operation of the toilet was obtained by an associate. Crapper bought the rights and used the technique in his product.
For over 40 years (1861-1904), his firm did make and sell some of the most unbelievably ornate specimens of the porcelain device you might ever see, however. He died in 1910 and the firm that bore his name continued operations until 1966.
Whether "crap" is a -- er -- back formation on his name, or derived from the Dutch (yes, blame it on the Dutch, wouldya?) is a bone of contention. I think it may be something of both.
There are still parts which don't have them. I'm reminded of a person doing a survey in Wales, back when a lot of houses didn't have indoor plumbing, who went round trying to find out how bad the situation was. At a lot of farms he found that the answer was that they didn't have even outside plumbing. "What do you do, then?" he asked. The answer seemed to be in most cases "We go into Caernarvon [the nearest city] once a week!"
(Actually, they were too embarassed to admit that they used a board across a stream or behind a bush, but he imagined all these farm people queueing up in the city every week. Talk about constipation...)
Incidentally, this was in the 1970s as I recall, only 30 years ago...
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Date: 2003-11-14 07:44 am (UTC)So all hail World Toilet Day!!!
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Date: 2003-11-14 07:51 am (UTC)Flush with pride!
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Date: 2003-11-14 09:50 am (UTC)Some clarifications:
Although Thomas did hold several patents in plumbing, the critical patent for the operation of the toilet was obtained by an associate. Crapper bought the rights and used the technique in his product.
For over 40 years (1861-1904), his firm did make and sell some of the most unbelievably ornate specimens of the porcelain device you might ever see, however. He died in 1910 and the firm that bore his name continued operations until 1966.
Whether "crap" is a -- er -- back formation on his name, or derived from the Dutch (yes, blame it on the Dutch, wouldya?) is a bone of contention. I think it may be something of both.
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Date: 2003-11-15 06:19 am (UTC)(Actually, they were too embarassed to admit that they used a board across a stream or behind a bush, but he imagined all these farm people queueing up in the city every week. Talk about constipation...)
Incidentally, this was in the 1970s as I recall, only 30 years ago...