January 27 marks Thomas Crapper Day, honouring the English plumber and businessman whose name became forever linked with one of the most essential inventions in human history. While Crapper didn’t invent the toilet — a myth that refuses to die — he did refine it, promote it, and help bring modern sanitation into everyday life.
Crapper’s biggest contribution was elegance and engineering. His showrooms in London displayed polished, well‑designed bathroom fixtures at a time when indoor plumbing was still considered a luxury. He patented improvements like the floating ballcock, the mechanism that stops water from endlessly filling the tank — a simple innovation that saved water and made toilets far more reliable.
Of course, the story of sanitation stretches back thousands of years. Ancient Mesopotamia built early sewers. The Indus Valley Civilization installed toilets directly into home walls. Romans used communal latrines, and Greeks relied on chamber pots. But it wasn’t until the 19th century — with growing awareness of hygiene and disease — that modern water closets became a priority.
By the late 1800s, Crapper’s craftsmanship and marketing helped push the flush toilet into the mainstream. Today, his influence lives on in every bathroom, every plumbing system, and every moment we take modern sanitation for granted.
Before you give a nod of appreciation to the man who helped make daily life a whole lot cleaner, here’s your Tillsonburg fuel update:
-
Pioneer: $118.9
-
Esso: $119.3
-
Shell: $119.9
-
Petro Canada: $119.9
So whether you’re celebrating innovation, sanitation, or simply enjoying the comforts of modern plumbing, keep your tank topped up and your day flowing smoothly.
