BY KEVAN CASSON History of the Toilet
Going Inside First indoor toilets by Harappan city dwellers in the Indus Valley in 2500 B.C. Most advances in toilets to come from Europe in the future
Royal Flush 1500 B.C.: Greek plumbers invent the first flush toilet in queen’s house Royal house is destroyed in 1400 B.C. earthquake Centuries until new innovation
Really Public Bathrooms Sewer system Cloaca Maxima of Rome is built in 800 B.C Public toilets are built above the system Uncomfortable and unsanitary
This Job is the Pits 1300 AD, Europeans began use of outhouses English outhouse cleaner meets his fate at bottom of outhouse
Heads Up 1500s: European city dwellers use indoor “chamber pots” When full, contents are tossed out of the window.
A Charmin’ Idea 1857: Joseph Gayetty introduces toilet paper Previous toilet paper included catalog pages and dried corncobs
Bathroom Reading 1672: chamber pot disguised as a pile of books becomes one of the most popular models in France
Stop Making Scents 1775: Alexander Cummings patents the S-trap The modern flush toilet is born S-trap works to keep the bowl filled with water
Sculptured Seats 1885: Thomas Twyford introduces the Unitas, the first one piece, all ceramic toilet Ceramic toilets catch on quickly Decorated and molded into shapes
Minding Your Business 1999: The Matsushita Electronic Industrial Company of Japan previews high tech bowl New toilet measures weight and body fat and analyzes waste for information about your health
New Toilet Information The Tremont Hotel of Boston was the first to have indoor plumbing Scott Paper Company was the first to sell toilet paper on a roll in 1879 The first close tank toilet came in 1900