The over/under toilet paper debate has been solved - by a 124-year-old patent
Do you hang your toilet paper so the endflap is over the roll or under it? Would you fight to the death to defend your method?
Well, the long-disputed question finally has a definitive answer, thanks to writer Owen Williams who came across a piece of quite old but very convincing evidence.
The patent for toilet paper should settle the over vs under debate pic.twitter.com/arZl6l6ALn
— Owen Williams ⚡ (@ow) March 17, 2015
According to an 1891 patent for toilet paper filed by one Seth Wheeler of Albany, New York, the hanging end of the roll should be on the outside, or in the 'over' position.
Take that, 'under' people!
Wheeler was the owner of the Albany Perforated Wrapping Paper Company - the first business to sell toilet paper on a roll so he knows what he's talking about. He was also the first to patent perforated sheets.
So we have Mr. Wheeler to thank for the modern toilet roll - and for finally ending the over/under debate.
