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Royal Flush

<INNOVATION≥

Chelsea plumber seals the deal with a new invention

The modern flush toilet dates back to 1775, when a London watchmaker named Alexander Cummings patented a design in which a measure of water remained in the bowl after each flush.

According to Lawrence Wright's Clean & Decent: The Fascinating History of the Bathroom, the Water Closet and of Sundry Habits, Fashions and Accessories of the Toilet, Cummings' toilet was an improvement over earlier designs with one major exception: The seal on the bottom of the toilet inevitably failed, allowing the emission of foul-smelling and highly explosive sewer gas.

One might think that, after more than 230 years, someone would ...

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