It turns out that the original idea for perforated toilet paper was patented in 1871 as patent number US117355A. Back in 2010, Clark subsidiary Scott Naturals launched TubeFree Toilet Paper, a roll of toilet paper sans the cardboard tube in the middle.I'll set the top one to roll TP forward (like the patent shows) and the bottom one to roll the TP in the opposite direction. A vintage patent drawing for a toilet paper roll. The drawing shows a side view of the roll and a close-up of the paper. It was to save costs. Another supervisor demanded that the paper come down in front. Why? The inventor of perforated toilet paper Seth Wheeler illustrated his new and futuristic creation with the paper going up and over the roll. Speaking of colored toilet paper, who grew up with kitschy crochet toilet roll covers? Perhaps your grandmother made them.