In 1596 the water closet was invented by John Harrington, costing only 6 shillings and 8 pence, however the closet was not adopted on a large scale for almost 200 years. In 1738, JF Brondel introduced the valve type flush toilet. Alexander Cummings further improved the technology and designed toilets with perennial water to suppress odors. Still the working of the valve and foolproof inlet of water needed improvements. In 1777 Joseph Preiser provided this by substituting the slide valve with a crank valve. It seemed then the technology of pour flush was perfected - until 1870 when SS Helior invented the flush type toilet, called optims.
The late 1800's saw the introduction of the sewerage system, described by the designer, Haussmann as "underground galleries which are organs of the big city, working as organs of the body, without being revealed."
Thomas Crapper, holder of 9 patents for improvements to drains, water closets, manhole covers and pipe joints, although possibly not responsible for inventing the product he is most often associated with, the toilet, made a significant contribution to the history of plumbing. It is thought the word "crap" was derived from American World War I soldiers seeing the words "T. Crapper" printed on tanks and coined the slang "crapper" meaning toilet.
TODAY in 2005, we have made huge improvement to the quality of life, however, the toilet has been severely overlooked, and it is in desperate need of redevelopment. Starting with a problem of ventilation, I see an opportunity to install a vent directly inside the bowl, instead of on the ceiling of the bathroom. It will vent offensive odors from right at the source. In addition to the internal ventilation system, I want to install a rubber diaphragm at the bottom of the trap. Attached to the outside (the dry side) of the diaphragm, a hammer or roller of some kind will be linked to an external peddle. This peddle can be depressed by the operators foot in order to break loose any trouble spots. Plungers are the most disgusting thing in the whole wide world and I will not miss them when they find themselves out of work, due to the invention of my “peddle pusher”.
Generally, this kind of conversation is faux pas, and nobody wants to be associated with such inventions, but its time somebody stepped up. You'll think about this next time you stink up your girlfriend's bathroom, and you don't have a match.