As I start another load of laundry, this advertisement reminds me to appreciate the modern washing machine, which was invented by Edwin King of Chautauqua County, New York (patent is here).If this is the Prize Washer of America, that lady is in trouble, although she looks quietly happy. Since the cleansing action depends upon "currents of water," there will almost certainly be currents of water on the floor by the end of the wash cycle. The barrel looks like it is about to overflow any second.
At which point she will be needing the Prize Mop of America.
Advertisement from The Stranger's Guide to New York City (1871) - in case any tourists were looking for a large souvenir.
13 comments:
All I can think about when I look at that ad is how that lady is going to get that dress of hers all stuck in that contraption when she goes to wash it!
When I saw the title, I was wondering what kind of pet does one keep with the laundry?
One of my cats loves to curl up in the dirty clothes and take a nap. When I can't find her, I know to check the laundry room! *grins*
It really does make me appreciate my GE...and the dryer too! www.satisfiedsole.com
She looks like she is getting ready to suck the water out of the washer with the pipe in her hand.
I had no idea washers were that old. It must not have had an electric motor on it yet though - at least you can't see it. But the lever in the womans hand probably cranks it somehow to make it turn or cause "currents of water". I see.
What is a "fluiting machine"? Fluting is pleats in a skirt, right? What a cool ad! It does look like it may overflow.
Kris - You're right - and there are all sorts of problems about to happen.
Hairball - Our cats like the clean laundry too! :)
Pam - Me too.
iasa - I hope she knows what she's doing with that thing!
Max - I will try and find out what fluiting is, I was thinking the same thing as you.
I recall my gram had a roller washer in her basement. She did use a hose to drain it to the big sink down there. The rollers were motorized but had a back up crank in case you needed it. This was back in the day when you beat a cake mix for 100 strokes or whatever. Those women were strong!
pastperiodspress.com
Norkio - They erally were - and they did not need Tae-Bo or aerobics! Just the laundry (etc.)...
It must have been a messy business. My mom grew up on a farm in the mid-west, and they had a separate wash house for laundry.
With all the modern conveniences nowadays, I wonder why I don't have any spare time?
Bill - I don't either. And I am sure that the Brontes et al (not that I am in the least bit comparing myself to them BTW) had a servant to wash things up!
From what I've been told by ladies who actually had an opportunity to use one of these babies, it's probably just easier to just wash the darned clothes the "conventional" (read: long) way. A lot of homes just turned them into corner nick-nacks.
Ebon Swan - I can believe that!
I have my Grandmother's old washboard. So strange to think that was high tech back then. She used it long after most people had washing machines.
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