Did you know that some people actually collect toilet tank floats? We're not talking about the plastic or even metal ones you can get at Home Depot, but the antique blown-glass floats that used to bob in the backs of toilet tanks from the turn of the century until sometime after World War I. They are surprisingly beautiful.
(thanks Ben)
1 comment(s):
I've been a plumber for a lot of years now, in Britain, and I've never yet found a glass float, I think these might have been U.S. only, it would be interesting to hear if other countries used them. Old floats here in britain were usually made of two copper hemispheres, soldered together. I've found some from the 1890s, they polish up pretty well.
Old flush cisterns were usually made of wood, with the manufacturer's name branded on with hot iron, they were lined with zinc, with often a cast-iron siphon.
Rescued ones are popular repurposed as planters.
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