What is this old p-trap?

[Terry]

I have never seen a 1911 p-trap like this? Any ideas?

 

[John Gayewski]

My educated guess would be that it's just a "designer" or decorative trap from back when that was more common.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[WorthFlorida]

More water to evaporate before the trap dries out?

 

[James Henry]

That's what happens when the drain gets clogged.

 

[WorthFlorida]

When I first looked at this trap, my first though was to minimize siphoning for an S trap. Sure enough this popped up with a google search "old plumbing traps".

Chapter V. Traps

The subject of traps is a fundamental one, inasmuch as upon the proper operation of the trap depends the operation of the entire plumbing system, from a sanitary standpoint. Defined, the trap is a ve...

chestofbooks.com

 

[hj]

that was my first impression, that it was a "resevoir" of excess water to refill the trap after an "S" trap siphonage.

 

[Reach4]

That sure has a deep trap seal.

Anyway, here is a weird idea for a weird trap... maybe it is to keep solids from washing thru. As the solid gets carried thru the U and rises, it hits this wide place. The water velocity drops, and the solid doesn't make it up. So that engagement ring or loose gemstone could be retrieved by disassembling the trap.

 

[Terry]

Some more pictures.

I go into homes analyze the bathrooms to see what was removed ,and make a plan with home owner to fix it.Walter K. Parker's Old School Plumbing Dudley, MA Home

Repair and install antique plumbing in period homes using old shutoffs and traps,to make it appear to be original to the home.

www.oldplumbfixer.com