1. The Original Crapper
Although Thomas Crapper is frequently credited as the inventor of the flushing
toilet, his creation was not the first of its kind. Despite this, the
Crapper toilet helped increase the popularity of flushing toilets throughout
the nation.
2.
Fountain by Marcel Duchamp
French artist Marcel Duchamp is well known for his “readymades,”
or modified versions of everyday manufactured objects. One of the most
famous is
Fountain, an artistic take on J.L. Mott Iron Works’ Bedfordshire model urinal.
3. Elvis’ Deathbed
While Elvis’ place in pop culture history is glamorous, his death
was decidedly not. The toilet Elvis died on is still hidden from public
view, as no one has seen the second floor of Graceland since 1977. Elvis
isn’t alone, as comedian Lenny Bruce and King George II also met
their end on a throne.
4. “The Worst Toilet In Scotland”
There are many unsettling scenes in the movie
Trainspotting, but one of the most grotesque is when Ewan McGregor’s character uses
a toilet labeled as “the worst toilet in Scotland.” The scene
that follows lives up to this – if there’s a worse toilet,
we don’t want to see it.
5. The “Wide Stance” Toilet
Idaho Senator Larry Craig was one of Capitol Hill’s staunchest opponents
of gay rights until 2007, when he was arrested for soliciting sex from
an undercover cop. Craig’s defense? While sitting on a toilet in
the Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, Craig claims he
simply took a “wide stance” and was not attempting to flirt.
He eventually entered into a guilty plea for disorderly conduct.
6. The Bathroom In Space
Using a conventional toilet in zero-gravity would be distasteful, to say
the least. NASA spent $19 million on a Russian-engineered toilet system
for the International Space Station, complete with leg restraints. While
it may not be the most deluxe toilet, it filters urine into drinking water
– does your toilet do that?
7. The $29 Million Bathroom
While NASA may hold claim to the most expensive toilet, the most expensive
bathroom is located in the Hong Kong showroom of Hang Fung Gold Technology.
The jeweler who created the bathroom was inspired by Lenin’s suggestion
that gold should be used for public toilets. This is somewhat ironic considering
that the solid-gold bathroom is off limit to tourists and visitors.
8. The High-Tech Toto
It’s estimated that more than 70% of households in Japan feature
a Toto toilet, the most full-featured model money can buy. These features
include things like heated seats, deodorization and a built-in bidet!
9. The First Flusher
Believe it or not, the first flushing toilet predated Crapper’s invention
my more than two centuries. Although he certainly would rather be remembered
as a writer, Sir John Harington’s most notable contribution to later
generations was his invention of the flushing toilet.
10. Hitler’s Number 2
Adolph Hitler’s private yacht found its way to a New Jersey junkyard
in the 1950s, where it was quickly broken down for scrap. The toilet and
sink remain, however, and for many years were available for use at Greg’s
Auto Repair in Florence, New Jersey. The shop’s owner once disconnected
the toilet and attempted to sell it on a TV game show – it now sits
on the floor of the shop.
At Cyrious Plumbing, our knowledge of old toilets is second only to our
knowledge of modern plumbing. For top notch service and top quality repairs,
call our Waterbury plumbers today at (203) 577-5628.