The Armitage Shanks Family Part 3 Square Squatting - Lei Yue Mun Ling Nan Sun Cheun Public Toilet

Today,you will look at the 3rd part of the Armitage Shanks Family Series.This time round,you will be looking at toilets from Hong Kong and Malaysia.The square squatting Armitage Shanks.This post is actually a 2-in-1 post.I am also featuring one public toilet I visited during my recent trip to Hong Kong.

It so happened that this public toilet has the square squatting Armitage Shanks.I will introduce the square squatting Armitage Shanks,then move on to the featured public toilet.

The square squatting Armitage Shanks has been around since the mid 1990s.It is a very common sight in Malaysia.Especially on the North South Expressway.Almost every rest area you stop over has this type of toilet.But they are mostly flushed by valve.

For the cisterns flushes,you can find them at the shopping malls.It is quite easy to find them as they are very common.

In Hong Kong,it is a little bit tougher to find them,as the toilets are renovated quite often.In the mid 1990s,they were quite common.Most of the public toilets of that era have this type of toilet.They are either flushed by stepping on a pedal,or handles on the wall,or exposed cisterns.

Nowdays,due to extensive renovation,this type of toilets are getting lesser.However,there is a new batch of them.One has the latest Armitage Shanks logo while the other uses the brand Johnson Suisse.

I will feature the Johnson Suisse ones in another post,as my current post is strictly on Armitage Shanks.However,I have included a photo of the new batch of square squatting Armitage Shanks.If you feel impatient,you can scroll down right now to the last photo of the post to look at it.

Now,I will move on to the featured public toilet.Introducing...Ling Nam Sun Cheun Public Toilet of Lei Yue Mun.As you can see from the photo below,this toilet is newly renovated.

But looking at the toilet bowl itself,you might have second thoughts.Are you thinking about the same thing as me?

Yes,you are right.This toilet underwent a facelift.The exterior and tiles were renovated,but the bowl remains the same.

As I have mentioned earlier,this toilet belongs to the mid 1990s era.Looking at the exterior and the tiles,the bowl and its surroundings are not congruent.The exterior and the tiles belong to the new millenium.

I didn't not expect to see this bowl before I went into the toilet.I expected to see a new Twyfords,or some metallic bowl.In fact,there are about 4 of such bowls and 1 sitting bowl in this toilet.The toilet is relatively clean.

Coming up next is the video of this toilet...



You would probably agree that the flushing sound is quite screwed up.I had to step on the pedal twice to get it flushing.I suspect that there is no cistern because I didn't have to exert a lot of force when I stepped on it the first time.

However,the second time,I had to step and put my foot there.If I let go of my foot,the flushing stops immediately.I suspect that instead of a cistern,the toilet is flushed by a valve.

Let me explain why I came to this conclusion...

1.Basing on experience,when there's a cistern,you have to exert more force on the pedal.

2.After exerting the force on the pedal,you can let go and the toilet will flush by itself all the way until the cistern empties itself.It will not stop flushing the moment you let go of the pedal.

3.The flushing sound doesn't sound like a cistern flush.

Anyway,I hope to be able to video a toilet of this type and model with a cistern.If I go to Hong Kong again,I'll probably go over to Ah Kung Ngam Road Public Toilet where it has this type of toilet with a cistern.

Coming up next is the new batch of square squatting Armitage Shanks on photo.It looks exactly the same as its predecessor,except the brand logo.

The new batch's brand logo is facing outwards instead of upwards.Armitage Shanks seem to be going back in time,instead of following the trend of brand logos facing upwards.

I apologise that there is no video for this one as I took this photo about a year ago and back then I didn't have my video camera.

This photo was taken at Shing Ho Road Public Toilet & Bathhouse,Sha Tin,New Terrotories,Hong Kong.It is a newly renovated toilet.

In the next part,you will be looking at the smallest Armitage Shanks squatting toilets.My main computer is down at the moment.I am using my laptop to do this post.The photos are in the main computer.I will only be able to do the next post after my computer resumes operation.Till then,stay tuned!

The Armitage Shanks Family Part 2 Long Squatting

Before I welcome you to part 2 of the Armitage Shanks Family Series,Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.

Actually didn't really planned to do an entry today,but I have a lot of new Hong Kong Public Toilets that I want to introduce in later entries.I have to finish this series before I start on the Hong Kong Public Toilets.

Anyway,in this entry,I will talk about the Long Squatting Armitage Shanks.This type of Armitage Shanks are only avaliable in Singapore.As you can see,the long shape is very typical of Singapore squatting toilets.

SP,Potex,JP,Saniton,Johore Pipe Co,Twyfords,Royal Doulton,Diamond Brand...and these brands with toilets found in Singapore all have this design.

There are 2 batches of Long Armitage Shanks.The older batch was manufactured in the mid 1970s.If you are lucky enough to find a building built between 1974 to say around 1980 and the toilet is not renovated,you might find something like this.

The brand logo of the older batch only consists of words.Armitage Shanks Viterous China on 3 lines.As you can see in the photo below.



The photo below was taken at Beauty World Plaza.This photo was taken 4 years ago.Fortunately,when I went back again sometime this year,the toilet was still around.I made use of the chance to shoot a video of it.




Let me comment on this video.Sad to say,something cocked up with the cistern.That's why it doesn't have the classical Armitage Shanks flushing sound.But I have no choice,this is the only toilet I can find in Singapore with a long squatting Armitage Shanks with a high cistern.

If you are interested,there is another place with this type of toilet,but it is a low cistern with a button on the cistern.I can tell you,the flushing sound sucks.

This other toilet is at Peace Center,Level 8 Offices Toilet.But the flushing sound sucks.If you really want to explore,go to the one at Beauty World Plaza.

Now,let's move on to the newer batch.The newer batch is manufactured between 1984 to 1986.Basing on personal experience,I find the newer batch more powerful.

So how do you tell the difference between the 2?

It's quite simple actually.The brand logo tells it all.The newer batch has an 'A' for the brand logo.There is no Viterous China and the whole thing is only 2 rows of words.

Look at the photo below and compare it with the previous photo,you will understand what I mean.

Although this is the newer batch,it is still quite difficult to track down.Nowdays,these toilets seem to have became extinct.But hey,don't worry.I have captured it on video for you.


A little background of this toilet before the video...This toilet was built in 1985.It is located at the coffee shop below my house.Initially,the flushing system was valve flushing.Recently,the owner decided to change it to a high cistern.Which I believe is good news.

Before planning to shoot this toilet,I wanted to shoot those at the Corporation Road Market.But sad to say,the whole market was demolished when I went there.But I'm grateful that I managed to get this one on video.

So here you are...enjoy the video.



In this video,you can hear the classic Armitage Shanks flushing sound.In my opinion,this video is much much better than the previous one.

In the next part,I will present to you the Armitage Shanks of Malaysia and Hong Kong.