Plumbing Fixtures

Laundry Trays.

These are made in all the materials used in other plumbing fixtures. Wood trays were formerly common but their unfitness because of absorption and odors, coupled with the increase in cost of lumber and the lessening in cost of the better materials, has effectually driven them out of the business.

The same inherent objection to the use of wooden covers may be urged as to the use of that material for the body of the fixture.

Trays are made singly and otherwise, but generally used in sets of two or three, except in the combination with sink already described. They are supported by a center standard or a metal frame, as best suits the material used.

Some means of attaching wring ers are provided, if possible. The waste is usually 2-inch. One trap answers for a set of trays. The size approximates 26 by 30 inches at top, with 15 inches' depth. The walls are all vertical except the front, which inclines about 30 degrees, making the width at bottom con siderably less than at top. Some makers furnish one tray with each set, designed to serve as a wash board, the interior of the front wall being corrugated like the surface of a portable washboard. The incli nation of the front is about right for scrubbing, whether the tray or an ordinary board is used, and the sup ports place the top of trays conven ient to the work.

All trays were formerly made with faucet-holes in the back; and the plumber furnished a hinged cover. Side-handle faucets were necessary to allow the cover to close, as holes for top-handle faucets would be so low as to make useless too much of the space above them. The holes were seldom fitted water-tight. Holes are not now made in trays u.aess ordered, and the side-handle wash-tray bibb is pearing. They were always annoying. If placed with the handles right and left as intended, the seat could not be examined, and no reaming or dressing of the faucet seat could be done without re moving the faucet. When placed with the faucet handles facing each other, they were wrong-handed and too close together. It was awk ward to supply air-chambers--especially so when all' the faucet holes were equidistant from the top. When placed for one line of supply

above the other, one line of holes was too low. These objections com bined brought about the practice of omitting the covers, putting the supplies over the trays, and using regular sink faucets. Overflows are provided only when so ordered.

Enameled backs with air-chambers and faucets are supplied with roll-rim enameled-iron trays. A complete set of three trays, with all attachments and fittings, is shown in Fig. 35. Flat-rim trays are made with or without faucet-holes, and are intended to have a hard wood frame to secure them, rigidly. The wood frame and cover can be had with the fixture, but the plumber often supplies them. Nickel plated or plain brass wastes and traps are furnished for trays, but the plumber can provide lead or cast-iron waste, if wanted.

Water-Closets.

Types of water-closets are innumerable, and are separable into classes according to principles of action. Porcelain and painted or enameled iron are the materials used. Porcelain is more fragile, but has the better finish and is susceptible of a greater variety of design and ornamentation. The all-vitreous body of water-closet china of to-day is far superior to the glazed clay ware of the past, which, depending only on surface impermeability, soon cracked badly, thus permitting of absorption, the forerunner of odors which no plumber's skill could prevent. Enameled iron has not so durable a surface, but will stand rough usage, and has the advantage of very seldom cracking from frost even though the water in the trap freezes.

The greater relative advantage and durability of the porcelain closet over the best qualities of enameled-iron fixtures, should not be overlooked. There is less adherence of the foul wastes to a porcelain surface than to the enameled surface. It is also a fact that enamel is subject more or less to abrasion by the use of harsh scouring ma terials, as well as to decomposition by uric acid and water-closet dis charges, and is therefore not a very durable material. These state ments can be confirmed by observation of closets which have been in use for a number of years.