Be Free From Ignorance About Plumbing!
Civilization as we know it could not have existed without the state-of-the-art municipal plumbing and sewer infrastructure that we enjoy today. Despite being a global public health technology, Americans did have some significant contributions to the development of all things plumbing-related.
On Independence Day, take a moment and celebrate with these Colorado Springs plumbers as they share fun facts about plumbing in the US.
Important Plumbing Developments in American History
The Tremont Hotel in Boston: The Tremont House was the US’s first modern hotel that touted many hospitality firsts. It was designed specially to house the latest plumbing that included flush toilets and bathtubs. It also included such luxuries as locked rooms, free soap, and bellboys. At the cutting edge of social advancement, it even had a dining room where ladies could eat alone since women dining alone was frowned upon in the early 1800s.
American Inventor Joseph Gayetty: The first brand of toilet paper sold in the US was manufactured by Joseph Gayetty. It came in 1000 sheet packs and was made of rough fibers of Manila Hemp. The paper was medicated with aloe, which drew criticism from doctors groups that called Gayetty a quack. It was supplanted as a household name by the release of “splinter-free toilet paper” manufactured by the Northern Tissue Company in 1935.
Presidential Plumbing: The White House has not always been the symbol of luxury that it has come to be known as. As indoor plumbing was starting to be installed in new, luxurious structures in the 1820s, the White House was left behind. Not until nearly three decades after plumbing moved indoors, the White House finally have a fully functioning bathroom. President Millard Fillmore oversaw the installation of a bathing room on the second floor in his quarters, complete with heated water and flushing toilets. Before this, presidents bathed in a nearby river or occasionally in tubs with water heated in kettles.
Toilet Facts
Municipal sewer systems went a long way towards improving public health, but the final step was making toilets porcelain. As toilets made their way indoors, most were made of wood that harbored pathogens. Porcelain is non-porous and easy to clean, so it became the material of choice.
It doesn’t matter which hemisphere a toilet is in as to which direction it flushes. The spin of the Earth is too subtle to affect the direction of the flush. Eddy currents are better predictors of the direction a drain will spin.
Other Fun Plumbing Facts
The word “plumbing” is from the Latin root “plumbum” which was the word for lead. Early pipes were made of lead, and up until recently, lead has been used in plumbing. This is also why lead is abbreviated “Pb” on the periodic table.
The original toilet paper patent from 1891 shows toilet paper with the loose end on top. This was the first time toilet paper was put on a roll and perforated. So, the original inventor intended for tissue to be dispensed from the top, not the bottom.
About B&L Plumbing
B&L Plumbing has been the only plumber Colorado Springs, CO customers have needed for over 20 years. A veteran-owned company, they fix any plumbing problem for residential and commercial customers. Always seeking a competitive edge, they offer their after-hours service with no additional charges. Call now for plumbing services!
