If it is what you say it is, the tank would be wall mounted and connected to the side port.

But if it is a straight drop-through (i.e. no trap) sewer gases will will be a permanent Victorian feature. It's not code compliant, and dangerous.

Interesting.... As an appraiser who has valued numerous historic buildings in the past four decades, you own a piece of history. It appears to predate the "modern" toilet as we know it, one invented by George Jennings circa 1852 - who patented a design that keeps water in the bowl after the flush. The better-known Thomas Crapper (really....) invented an improved flush/fill mechanism and holding tank.

The earliest flush toilets date back to the 1500s; later versions had some type of slide valve or rubber flapper at the bottom. It could also be some sort of fixture salvaged off a ship that would have had a pumping mechanism beneath the bowl.

There's an exhibit at the Mariner's Museum in Newport News titled "A Head of Its Time" featuring the single toilet that was installed below the waterline on the ironclad Monitor. This example looks a lot like that design - an upward flushing toilet. Apparently, it was the source of considerable amusement aboard ship when newbies opened the several valves out of the correct sequence.

Might make more sense to restore it...and then plant something in it.

Good luck!

This post was edited by apg4 on Thu, Feb 13, 14 at 16:26