Posted 3rd August 2020 by Mongers Admin
The one piece china Washdown Closet as developed in the 1850's has an integral 'trap'. The trap on modern toilet pans is almost always straight out the rear or a P trap, however in times past, when many instalations were in ground floor cloakrooms and outside privies an S trap, where the waste goes straight into the floor, was the most popular. The benefit of an S trap and a London trap, where the waste comes out under the pan, is that it negates the need for visible pipe work above the floor and a lot of unsightly boxing in.
S Trap Pan
P Trap pan
London Trap Pan
Antique pans are always in short supply. They have usually had a hard life and do not crop up in good condition very often. They are easily broken when removed, the glaze under the waterline can be damaged or decayed by use and sometimes the old glazes have become crazed and porous. It is therefore a good idea when instaling reclaimed toilets into your home to look at whether it may be possible to utilise either an S trap or a London Trap. This will give you a wider and better choice. When putting new instalations in extensions, for example, work out where the loo is going to go prior to instaling the drains under the ground, this will enable you to bring the waste outlet up through your floor where the pan is to be positioned.
Many pans have a vent hole also on the waste outlet. The purpose of these was to prevent drain smells entering your house in the days prior to the instalation of vented soil stacks. They are usually filled or covered these days as they are not required.
We are always requiring good quality antique, vintage and reclaimed loo pans, if you have anything that you wish to get rid of, please send us pictures.