Thunder, Flush and Thomas Crapper: F

Early automatics

In 1792, for example, John Ashley patented a device with wires and levers and a heavy valve, which flushed when you stood up, and at the same time opened the valve below the pan. In 1793 Mr Binns of Marylebone patented an automatic water-closet with a 'measurer' that filled with water when you sat down and flushed when you stood up.

A clever version of this was sold by the JL Mott Iron Works of New York, in a copper-lined wood cistern [see diagram in book, p67]. "When seat is depressed, water passes from the left-hand compartment to the right until it is level in both; when seat is relieved, the water in the right-hand compartment descends and flushes the closet." An even more advanced version provided a preliminary wash too.

The first patent for a flush using a siphon appears to have been taken out by Joseph Adamson of Leeds, England in 1853 (No 904). This was for an automatic flushing apparatus with a pivoted cistern, balanced with a counterweight so that when it was full as required, the weight of water tipped it over, and the contents siphoned out to flush the lavatory, urinal, or sewer.

This arrangement is reminiscent of the slop-closet, but the idea of the siphon seems to have been new with Adamson; Thomas Crapper (see also Thomas Crapper---Fact and Fiction) surely didn't invent it, since in 1853 he was only seventeen years old and an apprentice in London.

George Jennings

In 1854 George Jennings, having perhaps seen the potential of Adamson's idea, took out patent No 1017, which describes beautifully the principle of the siphon. He had:

a cistern, which is supplied from a water main or other source, and the supply regulated by a ball-cock or float, as is well understood. From this cistern the longer leg of a syphon descends to the water-closet or otherwise, the shorter leg of the syphon being in the cistern, and the bend of the syphon comes just above the ordinary level of water in the cistern. In order to cause the water to descend from the cistern, the water level is raised, and this, by preference, is done by introducing a plunger into the water, which raises the water level, so that it comes above the bend of the syphon, when the syphon will immediately come into action, and the water in the cistern run off.

Jennings' Pedestal Vase won the Gold Medal at the Health Exhibition of 1884. In a test, a two gallon flush completely removed 10 apples averaging one-and-a-half inches diameter, one flat sponge about four-and-a-half inches diameter, three air vessels (which were like crumpled pieces of paper), plumber's smudge coated over the pan, and four pieces of paper adhering closely to the soiled surface.

See Abbot of St Albans, ball-cock, cistern, siphonic action.

A rival company, Sani-fem, sells the Freshette---a portable female urinal---by mail order from Downey California, and claims it is great for travellers, campers, hikers, and cross-country athletes, as well as those with knee, back, or muscular problems. The regular Freshette is an 'environmentally sound, palmsized, featherlight and reusable anatomically designed funnel...' The regular tube is five-and-a-half inches long, but they can supply longer tubes for use in a wheelchair or in bed. They also sell disposable, biodegradable Freshettes.