If you have ever had to flush a modern 'water saving' toilet more than once you will know what I am talking about - are you really saving water? Those of you old enough to have used a toilet with a traditional cistern will remember how efficient they were. They also only ever needed flushing once. Traditional British sanitary ware and plumbing had been used for hundreds of years, well made and built to last. Also more easily repairable instead having to be frequently replaced. All you needed was an experienced plumber. For example, it was a simple task to change a worn tap washer. Whereas modern ceramic disc taps can often need the whole cylinder mechanism and sometimes the whole tap to be replaced. Maybe old experienced specialists in sanitary ware were not consulted about the design changes on how best to save water etc Then maybe more of the planet's other precious resources would have been be saved too. It is possible to convert a traditional cistern design to be both water saving and still work efficiently. However I am no expert.
 
The Mail online also reports, 'A bathroom innovation designed to save water is actually wasting billions of gallons every year. Dual-flush toilets are wasting more water than they save, reports UK conservation group the Waterwise Project, which points the finger at frequent leaks and users being confused by the flush buttons. Between five and eight percent of UK toilets are leaking, the group says it is adding up to about eighty eight million gallons of water a day and most are dual-flush models.' and 'the two buttons also confuse users, who often use the wrong one or both. Plus 'Older toilets use a siphon system that's much less likely to leak.' See more at the link below.
 
How did we get to this? When did we stop valuing traditional tradespeople with many years of experience and manufacturers of traditional designs 'built to last' for many years? A person who has specialised in a skilled trade or craft and gained years of experience will instinctively understand the metal, stone, brick or wood etc they have worked with all their lives. Whereas a person educated to a high-level degree in the same or a closely related subject with little or no practical experience may not. Maybe we need to combine and respect each others knowledge much more than we currently do?
 
Interestingly the Romans already knew this. Roman values of nature in harmony with design can be found in the series of books, 'On Architecture', by Vitruvius, a Roman architect and engineer. He wrote a detailed account of how Romans planned and built their great buildings and cities, still valued today. Vitruvius realised that for his books on architecture to be truly useful he should first consult craftspeople. He travelled around the Roman Empire making notes from their local knowledge and experience.
 
Architectural salvage and reclamation dealers with years of experience are also an underrated resource for both current and historical reference. One trade expert on sanitary ware, that immediately comes to mind, is Simon Kirby, now cataloguing his own private antique sanitary ware collection. Simon's claim to fame was reviving the reproduction bathroom range of Thomas Crapper; well known for for being made in Britain to original designs with high quality design standards.
 
Basically as an armchair 'expert' I am thinking specialist tradespeople can often be more 'expert' than the 'experts'. if you understand my meaning.
 
Antique and modern sanitary ware made using traditional standards to 'stand the test of time' can be sourced on the Salvo online marketplace and directory. Just one example of an antique sanitary ware specialist selling unique salvaged and restored baths, basins and toilets would be Mongers Architectural Salvage. And for modern sanitary ware, Catchpole & Rye, who make fine quality reproduction sanitary ware in the UK, are a good example. Both are Salvo Code members and their contact details can be found in the Salvo online directory.
 
Catchpole & Rye Managing director, Tony O'Donnell tells his own story, 'A cottage we purchased in 1990 featured on old claw foot tub in the kitchen. A board on top of this was the kitchen worktop! The restoration of this bathtub lead me on a merry journey through the salvage yards of Kent and thus ensued a passion for antique sanitary ware and it’s manufacture. I quickly realised there was a forgotten heritage within Britain and set about understanding the origin of the these plumbing products and how they were made. Over the years I have studied original concepts, their functionality and methods of manufacture and now endeavour to replicate these with due respect to the great innovators of the 1800’s. Many of the skills and crafts required to make this a reality were in short supply but over they years we have managed to put together a team that allows us to create genuinely bespoke products here in rural Kent and supply to a worldwide market.'
 
My own thoughts were formed while relaxing in an armchair drinking a very enjoyable glass of organic Scottish whiskey.
 
Comments from other experts, 'armchair' or otherwise are welcomed and for more inspiration add some Vintage Roots. See the link below.