The modern interpretation of the water closet.
A water closet is also known in Great Britain as a privy, a WC or a loo; in Canada as a washroom, and in the United States as a restroom or lavatory. Does this Spark an idea?
History
While indoor toilets existed in ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire, the first operational facilities using indoor plumbing originated in the 16th century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Identification
Some people refer to a "water closet" as the toilet assemblage itself, a commode connected to a cistern--water tank--which washes waste into a sewage system. Others use the term to denote a small room that contains a toilet and sink.
Types
British craftsman Thomas Twyford created the first trap-less, one piece toilet fashioned from china in the late 19th century. During the same era, American William Smith invented the jet siphon water closet.
Time Frame
Two hundred years passed between Sir John Harrington's water closet invention for Queen Elizabeth I and the next British inventor to take up the task, Alexander Cummings, in the late 18th century. The heyday of WC innovations in the United States was around 100 years later.
Benefits
One of the joys of civilization.
The benefits to society of the water closet, lavatory, restroom or loo are incalculable. While campers and concert attendees must revert temporarily to more primitive facilities, most enjoy their return to civilization and running water.
Tags: water closet, water closet, Queen Elizabeth, United States