Sonja

Fizgig, really, it's like a Britta Filter of today, just for making cleaner tapwater to drink, cook with and such. Long ago they where produced usually as ceramics, not translucent plastic, and the charcoal sponge was well hiden in a pillar looking even more antique than it was. Qeen Victoria comissioned a nice enough ceramic pot surounding charcoal filter to befit a royal household from Henry Dalton in 1835, and since then only tastes pertaining to the look of the cases and materials changed a little, and the carrier materiasl for the coal in the filters, but it still works the same way. Lid off, pour water, wait somewhat, get better water from the lower end. :o)