The answer to the contested question of "should a toilet paper roll face over or under when on the holder?" is answered. The answer is it should face OVER.A writer just dug up the original patent for the toilet paper roll from 1891 and the patent drawing shows the roll is in the Over position!! The inventor of perforated toilet paper Seth Wheeler illustrated his new and futuristic creation with the paper going up and over the roll. The ageold question of whether toilet paper should sit under or over the roll has finally been solved. How? By a 124-year-old patent from 22 December 1891. 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. May include: A yellowed vintage patent drawing of a toilet paper roll with the title. Item in the photo is in Primary color: Gold Parchment.