If you’re looking up information about Thomas Crapper, you’re probably trying to confirm whether the man invented to the toilet. It sounds too good to be true, right?
How ironic that a man with the name Crapper, invented the toilet. Or, did the term come about as a nod to his brilliance?
Thomas Crapper is known for his toilet-related inventions but unfortunately, he didn’t invent the toilet. He has made our lives better by improving bathroom hygiene and automating some of the processes involved with using the toilet.
In this article, we’ll learn why Thomas Crapper often gets credit for inventing the toilet and we’ll learn how the term came about. It’s an interesting story to say the least!
Why Does Thomas Crapper Get Credit For Inventing The Toilet
Thomas Crapper is probably the most well-known inventor when it comes to the toilet. The reason for his popularity mainly derives from his last name.
The word crapper is synonymous with the toilet. In fact, the English language uses the verb, crap, to describe the act of depositing waste.
This is where the confusion begins.
Because of his name, Mr. Crapper often receives credit for inventing the toilet. It’s an easy name to remember, and it would make sense that the inventor of the toilet would be named as such.
But Mr. Crapper didn’t actually invent the toilet. He did, however, come up with 9 plumbing patents between 1881 and 1896. His inventions were impressive. Notably, Thomas Crapper invented:
- Floating ballcock (inside the tank)
- The manhole, for easy access to sewers
- And the U-bend trap (not the S-shaped trap)
- He also owned the patent for the siphonic flush toilet
His inventions were substantial and though he did not invent the flushing toilet, he contributed a great deal to improve it. Owning the patent for the siphonic flush doesn’t mean he invented it.
The flushing toilet was invented long before patents were granted (a few hundred years prior) and that recognition goes to Sir John Harington and Alexander Cummings. Sir Harington was the godson of Queen Elizabeth the First. Early iterations of the toilet weren’t common in society, however, the Queen did have one installed in her palace.
Could Sir John Harington’s invention be the reason we call toilets “johns” (we’ll save that for another article)?
Patents were issued a few hundred years later and another man was given the first for a flushing toilet design. As one could imagine, his flushing toilet likely improved upon the original by Sir Harington. The patent recipient also invented the S-shaped pipe under the toilet bowl.
Crapper’s ballcock invention was instrumental in automating the refill of water in the tank and his idea for the manhole is still seen in cities today.
Where Does The Term Crap or Crapper Come From
So where does the term crap or crapper come from when referencing the toilet? As the story goes, Mr. Crapper’s inventions were printed on parts of a toilet.
During World War 1, American service members came across the labeled toilet parts and began calling the toilet the name of the label they read inside the toilet. The Crapper name was already common on toilets in Europe because Thomas Crapper was from England.
It’s possible the Americans thought the name Crapper was funny, or they may have been confused by the label and assumed that Europeans called the toilet a crapper.
These servicemen are supposedly the ones who brought the crapper term to the United States and it caught on quickly. To this day, the toilet is commonly referred to as the crapper, and the act is known as crapping or taking a crap.
Another explanation for the word crapper is to consider the old definitions of the word. In English the term crap is a word that illustrates the “residue left over after rendering fat”. It can also mean “dirt”.
Michael Quinion (author of Port Out, Starboard Home ) believes that the term crap to describe fecal matter comes from the corrupted meaning of “crapping ken” which translated to “waste house”.
An additional source of the term might even come from old French word “croup” which means “rump”. English has the same word and meaning that originates from around 1300.
Conclusion
Thomas Crapper was a toilet visionary. His 9 patents no-doubt helped with sanitation and efficiency. His name often comes to mind when I drive over a manhole or when I have to fix the inside of a toilet tank.
But let’s not forget Alexander Cummings and Sir John Harington. These men came up with their ideas centuries before and did so out of the spotlight.
The next time you hear someone claim that Thomas Crapper invented the toilet, prove them wrong by giving credit to his humble predecessors. And don’t forget to share the story for why we now call the toilet the crapper (it’s not because of Thomas Crapper).
Thanks for reading another Toilet Travels article. It would make us smile if you were reading about Mr. Crapper while sitting on the crapper.