It's Not Crapper!

Posted by Alex Carrier

Poor Thomas Crapper. An unfortunate surname and the ignominy of being associated with, of all things, invention of the toilet.

January 27th is set aside as Thomas Crapper day. It is the anniversary of his demise not his birth – yet another low blow.

I admit, I gave merit to all the stories about connections to the name and the invention until I discover that all this talk about Thomas and the toilet is well – pretty much – crap.

First, the word crap has roots well back into the Middle Ages - long before Thomas made his way into this world.

In Wallace Reyburn’s biography of Crapper Flushed with Pride, Thomas’ death is placed as January 17, 1910. After a decade long battle clogged the courts with papers, photos and finally a death certificate, the date was officially changed to January 27th. Hence, Thomas Crapper Day.

And, while Thomas Crapper did own a plumbing company of sorts and did have patents on drains, joints and manhole covers, he did not invent the toilet.

So, on this Happy Thomas Crapper Day, I thank the deceased for not starting the war between the sexes over whether the toilet lid stays up or down.

Hello, it’s a lid. Lids go on top of things. It should stay down when not in use.

I will also refrain from casting aspersions on poor Thomas for the debate between toilet tissue elitists over the proper placement of the roll on the holder. Does the paper roll down the top or up from the bottom?

I vote for over the top since the decorated sheet is on top. What’s the point of having a decorated sheet on 2-ply tissue if you put it on the bottom where it cannot be seen properly?

And, no getting bunched up over exactly when the fan should be turned on, double flushing, not flushing and leaving just one sheet on the roll so the next person has to take care of replacing the toilet tissue.

On Thomas Crapper Day, I say thank you for just being you, Thomas. Bet that’s a load off his mind.

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