1920s to Mid-20th Century: Integrated Electric Washers
There were machines that simulated the use of a washboard, sieved tubs that rotated inside fixed tubs, tubs that rocked on a horizontal axis, and motor-drive plungers that pounded clothes in a tub. A Works Progress Administration film from 1910 shows a woman loading clothes in a metal machine, flipping a switch to start the machine rocking, and, then, sitting down to read. The first photo below shows a photo capture from that film. The machine is the metal oval on the left, and it rocks toward and away from the woman.
The second picture below shows a Maytag electric model from 1925 that was made of aluminum. Pictures in the second row also show electric washers with wringers from this period--they are, in order, Thor and Easy Brand models from 1924 and a 1930 Miele. Larger, more aggressive, better financed, better managed companies’ products took over the market. The agitator machine won out in the 1920s and 1930s over alternative washing machine technologies because of the business practices of the Maytag Company (Cowan, 1983, p. 143).
In the 1920s, mass production led to falling prices for washing machines (Cowan, 1983, p. 94). As of 1926, 80% of affluent households studied by market researchers in 36 American cities had washing machines. Only 28% of homes in small town Zanesville, Ohio had electric washers. Most of those with washing machines were among the affluent homes (Cowan, 1983, p. 173). During the single year of 1936, over 1.4 million washing machines were sold in the U.S., and the average price had dropped by more than half. However, many could not afford washing machines during the Great Depression (Cohen, 1982, p. 95).
As of 1948, consumers were still buying non-automatic washers. They could choose from many wringer models or a few machines offering spinners. The drawings at the top of this page illustrate the key parts of these types of machines. With a wringer, clothes were fed in one piece at a time, while a spinner dealt with a whole tub of clothes at once. Wringers typically could swing around and lock in at least four positions. In most spinner models, the spinner had its own tub, separate from the washer tub. The operator had to lift clothes from one tub to the other. Both washer and spinner could be used simultaneously—washing one load while spinning another load (Sater, Sater, Chalmers, & Myers, 1948, pp. 2-12).
The first photo in the row below shows a wringer model being used in 1940, and the second photo is of a 1942 washer with the smaller spinner in a separate tub from the washer. In other spinner models, the washing, rinsing, and spinning were done in one tub. Those models required less physical work, but only one operation could occur at a time. Spinners were less likely than wringers to tear off buttons, damage buckles, hooks and zippers, or leave clothes as wrinkled. In wringer machines, larger, softer “balloon” rollers were recommended as easier on buttons and other fasteners than hard rubber rollers. Operators also needed to fold in buckles, zippers, and buttons before placing clothes in a wringer. Power wringers needed an easy-to-use emergency release to separate the wringer’s rollers if clothing, fingers, or hair got caught between them. By 1948, most models had a framework of sheet steel covered with synthetic enamel and a motor with sealed-in lubricant. Washers powered by gas engines were available for homes without electricity. Nonautomatic machines ranged from 6 to 10 pounds capacity, although portable washers holding 2 to 3 pounds were available (Sater et al., 1948, pp. 6-12). The third photo below shows a ca. 1948 Handyhot tabletop portable electric washer.
The final row of photos on this page are from 1942 and demonstrate how washers needed to be operated and maintained to make them last through World War II. The first photo shows came with the caption, "Scarred for life by a sharp button. That's the sad story of this willing but misguided wringer. Don't let it happen to yours, because if it does, you'll be out of luck (and wringer) for the duration. Turn buttons and ornaments in when wringing a dress, and turn the machine slowly." The second photo shows how some machines did not have motors with lubricant sealed in, but instead needed to be oiled. The caption suggested, "Consult your instruction book before attempting a home-grease job. And when in doubt, call the service man." Information with the third photo instructed, "That washing machine has to last for a long time, so keep it in good condition. Drain it immediately after use, rinse tub thoroughly, remove agitator or suction cups and rinse with clear water." The caption on the fourth photo noted, "That line on the inside of your washing machine is a load line and it means just that. After your laundry is in the tub, the entire load should not exceed the line. If you overload, you'll find water running down into the motor where it will cause rust and decrease the motor's efficiency." Clearly, washing clothes was more complicated in the mid-twentieth century than it is now with twenty-first century washing machines. Hover over the photos for complete citations.