courtesty of Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine, 1992
The essence of plumbing is its mechanical genius. Unfortunately, its most clever innovations usually are not apparent to the casual observer, being hidden within the housing of a product or behind a building wall. Even plumbers who work with these mechanisms every day tend to lose sight of …
Continue reading Greatest Plumbing & Heating Inventions (Prior to 1975)When 1.6 toilets were introduced, there was resistance to limit the water closets only to residences. Here’s the news story on what the ASPE Research Foundation found.
courtesy of Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine, August 1992
by Jim Olsztynski
1. 6 Water Closets Questioned For Commercial Applications
Ultra-low flush water closets should be limited to residential …
Continue reading ASPE Research Foundation details findings of its ultra-low flow water closet studyBy Robert Walker, P.E. [Uni-Bell PVC Pipe News, Summer 1990]
Many of you have expressed a curiosity about the historical development of PVC pipe. In response to your requests, we provide you with this brief early history of PVC pipe and fittings.
PVC was discovered as early as 1835, but the first definite report of …
Continue reading The Early History of PVC Pipe
courtesy of Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine, July 1989
Testaments to the ancient plumber echo in the ruins of rudimentary drains, grandiose palaces and bath houses, and in vast aqueducts and lesser water systems of empires long buried. Close to 4,000 years ago, about 1700 B.C., the Minoan Palace of Knossos on the isle of Crete …
Continue reading Roman & English Legacy
courtesy of Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine, July 1989
The Roman Empire eventually encompassed all the countries along the Mediterranean Sea, Mesopotamia, the Balkans, and most of modern Europe, including Britain. With their plumbing engineers in tow, the Romans left in their wake large – and small – scale water systems that incorporated similar-style aqueducts, lead …
Continue reading Pompeii & Herculaneum
courtesy of Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine, July 1989
The capital city of the ancient land of Israel is situated 2,500 feet above sea level, high along a strategic ridge of hills. In the ten centuries B.C., Jerusalem would become a buffer state between the warring factions of Assyria and Egypt, and later would be influenced …
Continue reading Jerusalem
courtesy of Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine, July 1989
Until Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, rampaged through and destroyed the city in 432 B.C., Olynthus was a rich and flourishing metropolis, its people enjoying the luxury of the latest plumbing innovation-bathtubs. Excavations at Olynthus, in northern Greece, attest to tiled bathrooms and self-draining …
Continue reading Greececourtesy of Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine, July 1989
President George Bush (this article was first published July 1989) can take modern conveniences for granted. The White House is like a super hotel that contains all the high-tech appliances available. It’s part of the perks that go along with being the leader of the free world. …
Continue reading White House Plumbing
courtesy of Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine, July 1989
From ancient times, the rise and fall of the River Nile portended periods of famine or good fortune for the peoples of Egypt. Other than wells, the River Nile is the only source of water in the country. During an idyllic year, the flooding of the Nile …
Continue reading Egypt
courtesy of Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine, July 1989
Across the Mediterranean Sea from Mesopotamia, the ancient people of Crete and their Minoan sea-kings were leaving their mark on the early annals of history. Between 3000-1500 B.C., their early plumbers had laid elaborate systems of sewage disposal and drainage that resemble one of today. In fact, …
Continue reading Crete