On this day in history : 27th January 1910 – The death of English plumber and businessman Thomas Crapper….
Thomas crapper – Photographer unknown – credit: MJC Plumbing – Public domain
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….
Photo credit : Fawcett5 at English Wikipedia – Public domain
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….
Photo credit : Oxyman – own work CC BY 2.5
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….
Public domain
Thomas Crapper was also the inventor of the manhole cover – allowing easy access to the drainage and sewer system….
Manhole cover inscribed ‘T.Crapper & Co. Sanitary Engineers Marlboro Works Chelsea London’ – Photo credit : Patrick Mackie CC BY-SA 2.0
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….
On this day in history : 26th January 1926 – Scottish engineer and inventor John Logie Baird demonstrates his mechanical television system publicly for the first time….
Baird was born in August 1888 on the West Coast of Scotland and was the son of a clergyman…. He studied at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College but his studies were to be interrupted by the advent of World War One…. Having suffered ill-health for all of his life Baird was declared unfit to serve in the forces and so his war effort was spent working for the Clyde Valley Electrical Power Company, where he served as a superintendent engineer….
John Logie Baird in 1917 – Public domain
After the War he travelled to the West Indies, spending a brief period in Trinidad where he tried to set up a jam making business! For whatever reasons his venture was not successful and he returned to England, to live in Hastings on the South Coast where he began to experiment with transmitting images….
One of his breakthroughs was to successfully transmit an image of the Maltese Cross for a distance of over 10 feet…. His very first demonstration was held in Selfridges in 1925 – but a further breakthrough came in October 1925 when he managed to transmit television pictures in light and shade – making the images much clearer to see….
Early experimental television broadcast – Fair use
On the 26th of January 1926 he repeated this transmission at his laboratory on 22, Frith Street, Soho, London…. In attendance were members of the Royal Institution of Great Britain – an organisation based in London devoted to scientific research and education…. Also present was a reporter from The Times newspaper….
Baird and his television receiver – Public domain
Baird demonstrated the first colour transmission on the 3rd of July 1928…. The test comprised of a young girl wearing a series of different coloured hats…. Her name was Noele Gordon – who went on to have TV success of her own in the TV soap ‘Crossroads’….
Baird in 1925 with his transmitter equipment – and dummies ‘James’ and ‘Stooky Bill’ – which he used to demonstrate talking and movement – Public domain
On this day in history : 25th January 1905 – The birth of Margery Sharp – the English author who brought us many novels, including the children’s series ‘The Rescuers’….
Photo portrait by Bill Brandt, 1945 – Public domain
Sharp was born near to Salisbury in Wiltshire, although her family originally came from Yorkshire…. She then spent part of her childhood in Malta before returning to England in 1914 to study at Streatham High School and then Bedford College, part of the University of London…. She then spent a further year at Westminster Art College….
When she was 21 the satirical magazine ‘Punch’ began to publish her short stories…. She went on to write for several other magazines including ‘Good Housekeeping’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’ and ‘ The Ladies’ Home Journal’…. Her first novel, ‘Rhododendron Pie’, was published in 1930 – after only taking her a month to write….
In 1938 she married Major Geoffrey Castle, an aeronautical engineer – and during WW2 she worked as an Army Education Lecturer…. All the while she continued with her writing – producing in her writing career 25 novels for adults, 14 for children, numerous short stories and 4 plays….
However the work we undoubtedly know her for best is her series of children’s books telling the stories of a socialite mouse by the name of Miss Bianca – who helped people and animals who found themselves in danger…. The first edition of ‘The Rescuers’ was published in 1959…. The books were illustrated by Gareth Williams, who also illustrated other children’s classics such as ‘Stuart Little’ and ‘Charlotte’s Web’….
1st edition – Fair use
In 1977 Walt Disney released the animated film ‘The Rescuers’, based mainly on the second novel of Sharp’s series – it was an outstanding success…. A sequel ‘The Rescuers Down Under’, set in the Australian Outback, was released in 1990….
On this day in history : 24th January 1901 – The birth of Edward Turner, the engineer and designer of Triumph motorcycles and the Ariel Square Four and the Daimler V8 engines….
Turner, who as born in Southwark, South London – the third of seven children – had his first ride on a motorcycle in 1915, on a Light Tourist New Imperial…. By 1916 he was serving in the Merchant Navy, under contract from Marconi, as a radio telegraphy officer….
A 1920 New Imperial Light Tourist 300 cc motorcycle – Yesterdays Antique Motorcycles en Classic Motorcycle Archive CC BY-SA 3.0
In the early 1920s he bought Chepstow Motors in Peckham Road, South East London and by 1925 had designed his first motorcycle engine…. Within two years he had completed the motorcycle that became known as the ‘Turner Special’….
In 1928 Turner conceived an idea for an engine that would go on to become the ‘Square Four’…. It was a brand new concept – a 500cc unit with a one piece cylinder block and twin geared crankshafts….
Close-up of a 1932 Ariel Square Four 4F 600 cc engine – Yesterdays Antique Motorcycles CC BY-SA 3.0
BSA were not interested in either the design of the Turner Special or his new engine – but Ariel saw the potential and offered Turner a job…. The Ariel Square Four was first shown at Olympia in 1930….
In 1936 Triumph was bought by Ariel owner Jack Sangster – and its name was changed to Triumph Engineering Co…. Edward Turner, now 35-years-old, was made General Manager and Chief Designer…. Under Turner Triumph’s existing range of motorcycles were redesigned to be more sporty in style…. In 1949 the Triumph Thunderbird was launched and a decade later the Triumph Bonneville….
1950 Triumph 6T Thunderbird 650 cc motorcycle – Yesterdays Antique Motorcycles CC BY-SA 2.5Triumph Bonneville T120 on display at the Deutsches Zweirad-und-NSU-Museum – Image credit : Joachim Kohler – own work CC BY-SA 3.0
In 1959 Turner designed the Daimler 2.5 and 4.5 litre V8 engines for the Daimler SP250 sports car and Daimler Majestic Major….
Daimler SP250 (also known as the Dart) – Image credit : Brian Snelson – via Flickr CC BY 2.0
It was in 1960 that Turner went to Japan for a tour of the Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha motorcycle plants…. He was somewhat shocked to see the extent of production in progress, it was obvious the Japanese were gearing up to take over the Western market…. British motorcycle manufacturers, including BSA (which by now owned Triumph) were totally ill-prepared…. It was inevitable what was to happen – Japanese machines flooded the market….
Turner resigned as Chief Executive of BSA-Triumph in 1963 but kept a directorship…. Although apparently none too happy with the direction the company was taking at the time of his resignation he kept close ties with it until his death in 1973….
On this day in history : 23rd January 1570 – The murder of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray – in what is thought to be the first assassination carried out using a firearm….
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray – Hans Eworth – Roy Strong, The English Icon, 1969 p.94 – Public domain
Moray was the illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland – who had many illegitimate children but Moray was perhaps the most prominent…. He was born around 1531 – his mother, Lady Margaret Erskine, was the favourite mistress of the King….
At the time it was not unusual for Peerage titles to be granted to the illegitimate offspring of Royalty…. However, Moray’s title was not bestowed upon him by his father – but rather by his half-sister, Mary Queen of Scots…. When Mary came to the throne in 1561 Moray became her advisor and she made him Earl of Moray….
At first the two got on well – but then tension began to grow between them…. Mary was a devout Catholic, whereas Moray supported the Scottish Reformation…. Things became even more strained when Mary remarried….
Mary’s first husband, Francis II of France, whom she had married in 1558 at the age of 15, had died in 1560…. Five years later Mary was to meet, for the first time, her cousin Henry Stuart – Lord Darnley…. It was love at first sight – and after a whirlwind romance the couple were married at Hollywood Palace – she was 23 and he was 19…. Being first cousins meant the marriage strengthened their claims on both the English and Scottish thrones…. However, not everyone was happy about the union…. Darnley’s mother, Queen Elizabeth I of England was furious, both English and Scottish Protestants were angered and of course Moray was none too pleased either….
Mary with her second husband, Lord Darnley – Public domain
Moray had tried to prevent the marriage – he had gathered some 1,200 supporters together and marched on Edinburgh with a view to staging an armed rebellion – ‘The Chaseabout Raid’…. Unfortunately for Moray the people of Edinburgh refused to support him and it soon became obvious Moray and his men would be defeated – so they fled to England…. Only Queen Elizabeth I refused to help them and so for a while Moray became an outlaw….
Meanwhile the honeymoon period for Mary and Darnley was soon over…. Mary was pregnant within the first two months with the future King James VI and quickly discovered her new husband was not the man she thought he was…. He may have had the looks but Darnley was not of pleasant character…. He liked the good life – drank too much and was a womaniser…. He was arrogant, vain, jealous and quick-tempered…. He soon became a hated man in Scotland….
On the 9th of February 1567 Darnley was found dead outside a lodging house near the Kirk O’Field…. A large quantity of gun powder had been used to cause a massive explosion which had torn the building apart…. Darnley was discovered outside in his nightgown – it looked like he had been strangled…. Nearby two servants also lay dead….there was a chair and a length of rope present….
1567 drawing of Kirk O’Field after the murder of Darnley – Public domain
Some believed Mary to be involved; she had certainly visited Darnley the night before…. Trapped in an unhappy marriage – but being Catholic unable to divorce – she had a motive…. Also suspected was James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell – who was arrested and tried for the murder, only to be acquitted due to lack of evidence…. Mary married Bothwell just over three months later, on the 15th of May 1567….
Moray returned to Scotland and was pardoned by Mary; although no suspicion could be placed upon him for Darnley’s murder he would no doubt have been pleased…. When Mary married Bothwell to keep his head low Moray disappeared to France….
After Mary’s abdication from the throne in 1567 and her imprisonment, Moray returned to Edinburgh…. He was appointed Regent of Scotland, to take care of affairs until Mary’s infant son was old enough to take over….
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, Regent of Scotland – Public domain
Mary managed to escape from her prison and mounted an attempt to regain the Scottish throne…. Moray was determined to prevent this from happening…. A series of battles were to happen – at the Battle of Langside Mary’s supporters were defeated by Moray’s men – earning him the name of ‘The Good Regent’…. Moray continued to defend the throne, leading a military campaign – ‘The Raid of Dumfries’ – where he seized control of establishments belonging to the supporters of Mary….and many more surrendered to his forces….
But Moray had made many enemies….among them the Hamilton family, long-standing supporters of Mary…. He was at Edinburgh Castle, making plans for an attack on Dumbarton Castle, a stronghold controlled by Mary’s supporters…. Near to Edinburgh Castle lived Archbishop Hamilton, in the town of Linlithgow…. The Archbishop’s house offered excellent views of the streets of the town….
On the 23rd of January 1570 James Hamilton, the Archbishop’s nephew, visited the house – he was waiting for somebody…. Moray had been warned that he was in danger and that the streets of Linlithgow were unsafe for him – but the warnings went unheeded…. As Moray walked past the Archbishop’s house Hamilton shot him in the stomach – he died the following day…. Firearms had not been around that long and were still a rarity…. It is quite likely Moray’s assassination was the very first of its kind….
James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh in the act of assassinating the Earl of Moray at Linlithgow – G. Cattermole – Leitch Ritchie, Scot and Scotland, 1835 – Public domain
Hamilton had an escape plan and managed to get away – he fled the country and was never caught…. His uncle, the Archbishop, however – was hanged for his part in the murder….
Cottage Capers 