Steam Laundries
Were one of the first industries to take advantage of "steam power" of the revolution in terms of motive power. Since steam ran the "engines" of the place, electric power was not needed for the washing machines, which is how washing machines in commercial settings were able to run long before electic power became widely available.
It was deemed better to have one huge boiler providing steam not only for powering machines (via belts and such as seen above), but to provide a source of heat for water and irons/pressing equipment.
Gradually washers, extractors and the lot moved to having their own motors, however a central steam boiler was still used to provide steam for ironers,heating water, dryers, and such.