Well where to begin...this has to be one of my best finds this year! Found in a museum where it has been kept almost exactly as it was in Victorian/Edwardian times, including this toilet, which sadly is a rare thing nowadays, with the toilets for public use often modernised and spoilt.
We have an immensely rare Shanks Patent 'Compactum' Combination washdown pan from the early 1900's, one of the first washdown pans specifically designed for low level use (Hence the use of 'Combination' in its name) and were usually supplied with lead lined cisterns fully encased in wood to make it look close-coupled.
Sadly the original cistern has long since been replaced, albeit with a great 1950's Fordham Pressings Ltd enamelled steel cistern, complete with its original syphon and handle! The part 1 ballcock is a newer replacement but still gives a great refill.
The flush on this is great, very efficient and quiet. Even though on the face of it it seems weak, and I was expecting it to leave some paper behind due to the large water area and trapway, but it did perfectly! Suppose it serves me right for doubting the ingenuity of Shanks & Co. back in the day, as a good flushing low level 2gal washdown was almost unheard of at the time. If only more very old toilets like this survived! I'm unsure of the brand of the old basin but I assume its a matching Shanks, despite the old Stock Sons & Taylor tap. I've included a paper flush, cistern view & refill all in this video too, so enjoy!