You probably see a kitchen sink at least once a day. You may not wash dishes, or use it for hand washing or cooking, but the fact is, it is in fact everywhere. Has it ever occurred to you how these sinks were formed and how they came to our homes? Read on to learn more about the history of this essential part of our kitchen.
The sink is defined in plumbing as a bowl-shaped fixture found in the kitchen made of stainless steel, steel, porcelain, or other materials that is used for washing hands, dishes, pans, and other small objects. The idea of the sinkhole dates back to prehistoric times when Neanderthals made basins of water from large rocks that are eroded into concave shapes by many centuries of rain. The idea of creating sinks for use in the kitchen came much later, probably during the time when civilization finally started to happen – the time when animal skins became clothing and open hearths became indoor fireplaces.
Kitchen sinks have always come in various materials, depending largely on what was available. Therefore, the sinks varied from region to region. For example, prior to the 1940s, heavy stone and stainless steel were too expensive to ship, so sinks based on these materials were not available. During this time, soapstone was mined only in Vermont, and slate was widespread in the northeastern regions of the U.S. During the mid-1800s, tap water began to be pumped from supply tanks and collected into bowls. or buckets that were placed in dry sinks. These sinks were generally made of metal channels and built in wooden cabinets. Nickel silver (consisting of an alloy of zinc, copper and nickel) and copper were among the first two materials used for butler sinks that were only found in wealthy homes.
In the latter part of the 19th century until the beginning of the 20th century, the sink was not developed much. However, in the 1920s, the Monel Company hit the kitchen sink market. They produced lightweight, corrosion-resistant sinks made of copper and nickel, manganese, silicon, carbon, and iron. Twenty years later, the need for copper and metals increased due to the war, so stainless steel sinks entered the scene and became very popular not only for sinks, but also as countertops.
Earthenware sinks were first introduced in the 1920s and became popular for their solid ceramic bases (rather than cast iron ones), enameled white interior, and glazed brown exterior. They were used primarily in commercial kitchens, as they were relatively heavier. Fireclay is a ceramic material that is widely used today.
The sinks have also come a long way from what they were originally. It has its own long history. Today, sinks come in all shapes, sizes, and materials; It will certainly go through more developments in the future.
