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Quiz about British Toilet Manufacturers Old and New
Quiz about British Toilet Manufacturers Old and New

British Toilet Manufacturers Old and New Quiz


Anyone using British toilets over the years will have read the names in the bowls, how many can you remember? Includes related history and trivia.

A multiple-choice quiz by satguru. Estimated time: 3 mins.
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Author
satguru
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
278,461
Updated
Jul 23 22
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
959
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Many of the toilets made by John Bolding and sons were inscribed 'Bolding Molton'. What was the reason for this? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Which firm made the model 'Lynx'? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What was the likeliest name you would see on a British urinal in the 20th century? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Where were Twyford toilets made? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. What is the meaning of the manufacturer's name Celmac? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Which of these companies made toilets? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Which is the odd one out? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Fine pottery manufacturers Wedgwood and Royal Doulton made toilets.


Question 9 of 10
9. Another odd one out, which Victorian toilet model doesn't fit? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Who made the first underground public toilets? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 01 2024 : aspire63: 6/10
Sep 22 2024 : slay01: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Many of the toilets made by John Bolding and sons were inscribed 'Bolding Molton'. What was the reason for this?

Answer: They were made in South Molton Lane

Located in London's Mayfair, John Bolding and sons began in South Molton Lane, then taking over the adjoining premises in Davies Street, which is now (in 2007) an antique market. After taking over Thomas Crapper in 1966 they themselves went broke in 1969, although the name was revived in 1998 and the new company are based in Stratford Upon Avon.

South Molton is a village in Devon which gave its name to the London street.
2. Which firm made the model 'Lynx'?

Answer: Shires

A very popular household suite for decades, the Shires Lynx was a standard no frills, but well made, model familiar to a few generations and still made. Shires are now a huge company, Qualceram Shires plc based in Ireland, and have taken over some great British names including Selecta and Trent.
3. What was the likeliest name you would see on a British urinal in the 20th century?

Answer: Adamsez

Most men will be very familiar with the logo although women may have had to guess this one. Many school buildings were equipped with Adamsez urinals in the 50s and 60s, with the familiar logo. The 'Bean' model was one of the most well known. It took me a long time to find the meaning of the name, and was told by an employee that the company is owned by the Adams family, and its name was supposed to be a phonetic representation of "Adams's".

Although originally from Scotswood in Newcastle on Tyne, they are now based in Northern Ireland and still going strong.
4. Where were Twyford toilets made?

Answer: Hanley

One of our first toilets at home was a Twyford, and I was very disappointed the first time I went to Twyford in Berkshire there were none to be seen, as they were made in the potteries in Hanley, part of Stoke on Trent, by Thomas Twyford. They originally made tableware but collaborated with Crapper to make toilets.
5. What is the meaning of the manufacturer's name Celmac?

Answer: Cellulose McArd

The McArd family made early cellulose toilet seats so decided to name the company something that would immortalise their product, combining the cellulose with some of their own name. They were based in Yorkshire and began making toilet seats in the 1880s, and now part of Polypipe.
6. Which of these companies made toilets?

Answer: Crapper

Crapper have a lot of mythology around them as the name was so similar to the product, but all was a coincidence, and flushing toilets, as well as the word crap, had been around a long time before they made them in London. With a name like that it would have been a natural choice of profession.
Thomas Crapper moved to London from Yorkshire to start a plumbing company, and made many of the Victorian toilets until the company was taken over by John Bolding in 1966, only to go broke themselves in 1969. Ironically he lived the last 13 years of his life in a suburb of South London called Anerley, which if mispronounced also sounds fairly appropriate for his name. And he was born in a place called Waterside!

Despite the folklore, the syphon flush was actually invented by Sir John Harington in 1594, long before Crapper improved them. Although due to lack of interest only two were made for use, one for himself and one for Queen Elizabeth I at Richmond Palace. It was called 'The Ajax' meaning 'A jakes' or toilet.

Jeyes, Lever Brothers and Minton all made products seen in the toilet though, the first two for cleaning. Although Minton were also great potters they stuck to making tiles for them and no bowls I am aware of.
7. Which is the odd one out?

Answer: Twyford

It's their first names. The others are all Johns, but Twyford was a Thomas, like Thomas Crapper. It is quite strange that so many manufacturers were named John (Harington, Bolding, Howie) and Thomas (Crapper and Twyford) although the American 'John' is supposed to be named after John Harington. And we won't go into details of John Thomas here...
8. Fine pottery manufacturers Wedgwood and Royal Doulton made toilets.

Answer: True

In Victorian times, only the rich could afford flush toilets. And after the success of Twyford's, the established local firms Wedgewood and Royal Doulton in the potteries area in and around Stoke on Trent were only too pleased to follow.
9. Another odd one out, which Victorian toilet model doesn't fit?

Answer: Sapphire

The Sapphire was made by the now little known company Pickup, from Horwich, Lancashire. All the others were made by Twyfords. Adamant was also a popular toilet well into the 20th century, but not connected to the similar sounding Adamsez or a separate company. Unitas was so widespread at the time that it became the Russian name for a toilet, Unitaz. Deluge was a very appropriate name for a flushing toilet, which were still a novelty at the time.

There were around 50 different Twyford toilet models of the era.
10. Who made the first underground public toilets?

Answer: George Jennings

While all great innovators and manufacturers, it was Jennings (who used his middle name, his first being Josiah) who ventured the most into providing facilities for the public. Priding himself on designing toilets "as perfect a sanitary closet as can be made", George Jennings of Hampshire, who manufactured in London, was also responsible for the design of the underground fully tiled British public toilet. Accessible from a stairway usually on a pavement or traffic island, most have now been sold off as commercial premises, including a snooker hall on Shepherds Bush Green in London. He also introduced public toilets to over 30 countries.

Joseph Bramah, born Brammer but wanting to sound classier, was an innovative engineer both in the toilet and related area. He was one of the great lock manufacturers of his time as well, with the lock company surviving to the present day. So if anyone could sort out being locked in the lavatory he would have been the best equipped!
Source: Author satguru

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Leau before going online.
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