1891 Patent Settles the Toilet Paper Debate Once and for All

It’s one of those surprisingly heated household debates: Should toilet paper hang over the top of the roll, with the loose end falling down the front, or should it hang underneath, against the wall? Both methods work, both have loyal supporters, and almost everyone seems convinced that their preferred arrangement is the correct one.

But what if there’s actually a historical answer? The debate can be traced back more than a century to an 1891 patent associated with perforated toilet paper rolls. Inventor Seth Wheeler included a drawing that clearly illustrated how the paper was positioned on its holder. Interestingly, the arrangement shown in that original design also offers some practical advantages that might explain why so many people still prefer it today. So, between option 1 and option 2, which one matches the historical illustration? Continue below to discover what the original patent reveals.