On this day in history : 27th January 1910 – The death of English plumber and businessman Thomas Crapper….
It is thought American servicemen stationed in England during World War One brought the term ‘crap’ into our everyday language – as they saw the name ‘Crapper’ on so many cisterns when they visited our WCs…. “I’m just going to the Crapper”…. Actually the word ‘crap’ is Middle English in origin, it was used to refer to weeds and rubbish…. Its first entry in the Oxford English Dictionary was ten years after the birth of Thomas Crapper – long before he had left his mark on the British sanitary industry….
Thomas was born in Thorne, South Yorkshire, in 1836…. His brother George was a master plumber in Chelsea and in 1853 Thomas was to become his apprentice….
In 1861 he set up his own plumbing and sanitary business and quickly gained a reputation for high quality work…. In 1870 the company opened the very first bathroom showroom….
During the 1880s Prince Edward (the future King Edward VII) bought the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk…. Thomas Crapper & Co were contracted to do the plumbing in the renovations of the estate, including the supply and installation of 30 cedar wood seated lavatories…. This was to be the company’s first Royal Warrant – it went on to be awarded more in time both from Edward as King and then George V….
Having his own foundry and metal workshops at his premises enabled Thomas to develop his own ideas…. In 1880 he improved the ‘S’ bend trap by replacing it with the ‘U’ bend – delivering a far more efficient trap…. His company held nine patents, three of which were for improvements of the WC, including the floating ballcock….
It is often incorrectly thought that Thomas Crapper invented the lavatory…. It is also a common misconception that he invented the lavatory flush – (although his nephew is credited for improvements to the water siphon system at a later date)…. The confusion may come from the company’s advertisements of the time which do seem to imply the flushing loo was their invention….
Thomas Crapper was also the inventor of the manhole cover – allowing easy access to the drainage and sewer system….
In 1904 Thomas retired and handed the business over to his nephew George and business partner Robert Marr Wharham…. Thomas died of colon cancer in January 1910….
Cottage Capers 