Category: Thomas Crapper News

We used to call them go-carts, the Scots call them bogies, those trying to be taken seriously call them gravity racers but everyone agrees they are an insanely fun way of getting down a hill. The 2013 Border Bogie Challenge celebrated the art of descent in a gruelling timed race that featured motivated drivers in sophisticated machines and Simon Kirby on “the Crapper”. There are those that will say that the Victorians did not fully understand the concept of wind resistance and that a lavatory and cistern are not first choice accessories on a downhill racer. Simon Kirby is not one of those men, and remains undaunted by simple physics. Amongst the sleek and hi tech machines lining up for…

We are pleased to announce that the full range of genuine Thomas Crapper Accessories are now in production and available from stock. This range is copied directly from originals produced in the 1890’s, however their unique design not only suits the Victorian bathroom, but to most styles across the decades. All the items are British Made from solid brass, available in our standard finishes of Polished Brass, Nickel or Chromium Plate. Please note that bone china tumblers are available for all of the tumbler holders.

First published in 1969, this biography of Thomas Crapper was a best-seller and has been re-printed many times since. Written by the late Wallace Reyburn, O.B.E., it charts the life of Mr Crapper, the rise of his firm and the development of the flushing Water Closet in an engaging, informative and light-hearted style. The tale is told of how Mr Crapper started life in the West Riding of Yorkshire, became apprenticed to a plumber at the age of 12 and on completion he established his own business. Within a few short years he was manufacturing the finest sanitaryware and supplying the gentry, nobility and the royal family; his was the finest and most famous sanitaryware company in the Kingdom. Wallace…

In honour of Mr Tim FitzHigham’s epic, dangerous yet hilarious crossing of the English Channel in a Crapper bathroom-boat, we are proud to introduce the ‘FitzHigham’ loo pan! FitzNews In the nineteenth century, most W.C.s were given a name, which was normally proudly displayed on the china. In this case, it is our ‘Venerable’ exact-replica W.C. bowl, re-designated as ‘The FitzHigham’. In addition, on the rim there is a cartoon drawn by Tim, depicting him half-way across the Channel. On the top of the pan, at the back, brief details of the trip are recorded. We know of only one other commemorative W.C. in history: it was made for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897. ‘The FitzHigham’ is the same…

Manufactured and installed in 1915 for H.M. George V; the first bath on a train in the world. The L.N.W.R. Royal Train was built in 1902 and as previous royal carriages it was luxuriously appointed, containing modern conveniences such as a W.C. and a washbasin. In 1915, during the First World War, King George V and Queen Mary began long train tours of Britain in order to boost morale. Due to war shortages and restrictions the King felt he could not expect the aristocracy to provide hospitality (as they had during previous royal ‘progresses’ of the country); instead the royal couple spent many nights on board the train. At their majesties’ request, Thomas Crapper & Co. made a special bath…

This is the ridiculous story of the eccentric upper-crust comedian and ‘jolly good egg’ Mr Tim FitzHigham, and his epic attempts to row a copper Thomas Crapper bath across the English Channel. The authorities (especially those of the French) tried to stop him. Ultimately, they forced him to change the design from a lone bath to more of a whole bathroom, but he was doing it for charity (Comic Relief), and the more obstructive these mere ‘functionaries’ were, the more he was determined. We at Crapper & Co. were proud to sponsor him in this grand but idiotic endeavour. He was nearly killed during the first attempt (confounded by spiteful Eurocrats and one Hell of a storm) but the following…

An eccentric prize-winning stand-up comedian, Tim FitzHigham, is to ROW across the English Channel in a copy of a Thomas Crapper bath, made of copper. He hopes to raise thousands of pounds for Sport Relief by rowing the Channel, then around the Kent coast and up the Thames to Tower Bridge. The craft is named ‘Lilibet II’ in honour of (and with permission from) H.M. the Queen. Crapper & Co. are part-sponsoring the event and of course supplied the shower, bath taps, &c.. They also provided a plug-hole, but FitzHigham thought it might compromise the sea-worthiness of the boat, so he stopped-up the hole with a useful compass! Lilibet II was launched by none other than Thomas Crapper, a young…

He’s done it! Tim has crossed the English Channel! After nine hours and six minutes’ rowing, Tim Fitzhigham is the first to row the Channel in a bathroom. Please see www.timstub.com for his story in his own words, and do spare a few quid for his charity, Comic Relief. WHAT’S NEXT? Tim is now underway with the second part of his challenge – to row the bathroom around the coast of Kent, from Folkestone, past Ramsgate and the Isle of Sheppey, and up the Thames estuary to Tower Bridge! This will be done in stages, as and when the weather allows. So far (14th July) he has reached Ramsgate and is waiting for the all-clear, as that stretch of water…