Share Bathroom: Toilets, Sinks, and Bathtubs
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What were early Roman latrine seats separated by in Timgad, North Africa?
Carvings of dolphins.
What material was the toilet seat in the ancient Egyptian city of Tel el Amarna made from?
Limestone.
What phrase did people shout in the Middle Ages before throwing the contents of their chamber pots out the window?
“Gardy-loo!”
Who invented the first flushing toilet, and when?
Sir John Harington in 1596.
What innovation did Thomas Crapper contribute to toilets?
He perfected the cistern, making flushing quieter.
What did early settlers in the United States use to decorate outhouses?
Wallpaper, newspaper, and catalogs.
What was the name of the first American poet to install an indoor toilet?
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
What kind of water system do modern environmentally-friendly toilets often use?
Systems that recycle wastewater from sinks into the toilet tank.
Why did people prefer white bathroom fixtures in the early 20th century?
White was associated with cleanliness and looked sanitary.
What problem occurred with low-flush toilets in 1996?
They lacked flushing power and often overflowed.
What ancient civilizations showed people washing with water poured from jugs?
Ancient Egyptians and Greeks.
What French word does “lavatory” come from, and what does it mean?
"Lavabo," meaning “to offer a wash.”
What was one of the main materials used to make washbasins in the 1830s?
Marble.
What innovation made sinks more sanitary in the 1880s?
The development of vitreous china.
Who designed the prefabricated floor-to-ceiling bathroom unit in the 20th century?
George Sakier.
What shape did Gio Ponti design for his sink in 1953?
An angled shape resembling arms washing.
