bradross
Well-known member
received this link on my Pinterest feed. 1941 article from LIFE magazine, showcasing a "day in the life" of an average, middle-class American housewife. Some great photos!
1941 LIFE article, showing Bendix (?)
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Wow! Thanks for sharing — my Mom used to have that same folding hamper-contraption thing instead of a traditional laundry basket. And this was in the late 1960s and 70s..!
Great Picture! Thanks for sharing.
If this woman had a Bendix in 1941, she was probably more than middle class. Nice to see that there was a "Home Laundry" size of Oxydol soap. The suds must have made a mess in the Bendix.
Didja notice that unlike the models in laundry ads, she's not wearing heels, but sensible lace ups?
If this woman had a Bendix in 1941, she was probably more than middle class. Nice to see that there was a "Home Laundry" size of Oxydol soap. The suds must have made a mess in the Bendix.
Didja notice that unlike the models in laundry ads, she's not wearing heels, but sensible lace ups?
My mom always had a folding laundry cart like that, except with a metal frame. The first one was canvas, and it finally got holes in it. Sometime in the 70's, I ordered her a new one from Sears that had a vinyl clothes bag. I still have it.
Folding laundry carts are alive and well
Professional/commercial laundries and or in various related settings never ceased using.
Have two; one smaller single bag and a larger with three compartments: Whites, Colors and Darks....
These were also used instead of laundry baskets for holding clean laundry either for folding or waiting to be ironed. Some could be latched partlily folded so could be used to "catch" long part of things being ironed so they wouldn't reach floor.
Professional/commercial laundries and or in various related settings never ceased using.
Have two; one smaller single bag and a larger with three compartments: Whites, Colors and Darks....
These were also used instead of laundry baskets for holding clean laundry either for folding or waiting to be ironed. Some could be latched partlily folded so could be used to "catch" long part of things being ironed so they wouldn't reach floor.
Notice that housewife still had her laundry tubs as seen off to the right on shelf under table.
While household may have been middle class; that basement speaks to a very old house indeed. Last time saw a basement like that was in that film "Night of the Living Dead". *LOL*
While household may have been middle class; that basement speaks to a very old house indeed. Last time saw a basement like that was in that film "Night of the Living Dead". *LOL*
Mom used hers when ironing things like sheets, tablecloths, and curtains.
I agree with Launderess - that basement is scary. Almost as much as the one in the rental house I've been living in!
I agree with Launderess - that basement is scary. Almost as much as the one in the rental house I've been living in!
Notice on side of that cart bag there are pockets
That is where one kept clothespins! Again if used for holding freshly laundered things while pegging things out.
Both for putting things up and taking them down again these wheeled carts were far easier on the back then having to continuously bend/reach down into a ground level laundry basket. That and one could move the cart along as going down the line instead of having to either lug a laundry basket along, or push/pull it along.
That is where one kept clothespins! Again if used for holding freshly laundered things while pegging things out.
Both for putting things up and taking them down again these wheeled carts were far easier on the back then having to continuously bend/reach down into a ground level laundry basket. That and one could move the cart along as going down the line instead of having to either lug a laundry basket along, or push/pull it along.
That is a norther basement sorta like Jetcone's.
jeb
Well-known member
Bendix
Notice the very early Bendix porthole door opens down. I wonder how many glass doors got broken before the redesign to swing open?
Notice the very early Bendix porthole door opens down. I wonder how many glass doors got broken before the redesign to swing open?
Very interesting picture, it looks like she may be washing for a large family. The nice thing about a basement, even a scary one, was that you had plenty of room to spread out. Does anyone recognize the brand on the brown bottle? I'm sure she quickly made friends with the bleach bottle when she started using the Bendix.
The Bendix could be as early as 1937, the drop down door and aluminum drum were only used on the very early production units and the side-swing door came along soon after.
https://www.automatice.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?showdoc~667~Bendix~
The Bendix could be as early as 1937, the drop down door and aluminum drum were only used on the very early production units and the side-swing door came along soon after.
https://www.automatice.org/cgi-bin/index.cgi?showdoc~667~Bendix~
bradross
Well-known member
Here's the link to the article...
Sorry, forgot to attach the link in my original posting ...
https://mashable.com/2015/05/10/housewives-1940s/#5Qa5HrC3Cgq5
Sorry, forgot to attach the link in my original posting ...
https://mashable.com/2015/05/10/housewives-1940s/#5Qa5HrC3Cgq5
Interesting article
The house reminds me a lot of several homes in my area. It's location is on Cobb Blvd. In Kankakee.
According to what I could find out about Jane and her family, she passed away in 1980, and both sons are also deceased. The daughter apparently lives in Kansas.
The house reminds me a lot of several homes in my area. It's location is on Cobb Blvd. In Kankakee.
According to what I could find out about Jane and her family, she passed away in 1980, and both sons are also deceased. The daughter apparently lives in Kansas.
Brown Jug is Chicago's Own Linco Bleach
From the Linco (Bleach) Corporation started by brothers Mario & Salvatore Giachetti
Linco actually home delivered bleach and other products throughout the Chicago area from their headquarters at 2155 W. 80th St.
In addition to chlorine bleach, Linco also offered a sodium perborate "dry" bleach, Linco Ammonia
https://forgottenchicago.com/forum/read.php?1,5079,24565
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-linco-bleach-glass-bottle-amber-color-w
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-linco-powder-bleach-box-full-1617860314
From the Linco (Bleach) Corporation started by brothers Mario & Salvatore Giachetti
Linco actually home delivered bleach and other products throughout the Chicago area from their headquarters at 2155 W. 80th St.
In addition to chlorine bleach, Linco also offered a sodium perborate "dry" bleach, Linco Ammonia
https://forgottenchicago.com/forum/read.php?1,5079,24565
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-linco-bleach-glass-bottle-amber-color-w
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-linco-powder-bleach-box-full-1617860314
Interesting: If am reading correctly some of that Life photo essay were staged.
http://www.lawrence.com/weblogs/blank_canvas/2006/jan/20/occupation_housewife/
Yes sadly both sons are deceased (2002 and 2006)
https://webcache.googleusercontent....6-9682d3373a08.html+&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
While the tree still remains, it seems as if 978 Cobb Blvd as seen in photo essay was torn down and property redeveloped at some point. Area is rather nice IMHO. House is right up the street from a very nice park. Lots of trees and appears to be everything one associates with a nice mid-west area.
http://www.lawrence.com/weblogs/blank_canvas/2006/jan/20/occupation_housewife/
Yes sadly both sons are deceased (2002 and 2006)
https://webcache.googleusercontent....6-9682d3373a08.html+&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
While the tree still remains, it seems as if 978 Cobb Blvd as seen in photo essay was torn down and property redeveloped at some point. Area is rather nice IMHO. House is right up the street from a very nice park. Lots of trees and appears to be everything one associates with a nice mid-west area.
Scary Basement
That looks like MY basement!
Dave
That looks like MY basement!
Dave
bradross
Well-known member
Looks like the original house - porch removed...
The lines are the same, as are window/door placements. Shame the porch is missing.
Thanks to Launderess for posting those two other links...especially interesting to read about the daughter's response to the NY Times article.
The lines are the same, as are window/door placements. Shame the porch is missing.
Thanks to Launderess for posting those two other links...especially interesting to read about the daughter's response to the NY Times article.
@badross
Good eyes! Never thought that it was just the porch removed along with a different color paint scheme.
House has to be well over one hundred years old; am guessing that front porch was either going, shot or something else and cost of repair or full replacement too dear. So it was removed and the simple replacement that we see now is what was chosen to replace.
Older homes are a minefield. Even with regular maintenance sooner or later things start go to that will need replacing.
Good eyes! Never thought that it was just the porch removed along with a different color paint scheme.
House has to be well over one hundred years old; am guessing that front porch was either going, shot or something else and cost of repair or full replacement too dear. So it was removed and the simple replacement that we see now is what was chosen to replace.
Older homes are a minefield. Even with regular maintenance sooner or later things start go to that will need replacing.
When I pulled up the picture earlier today, I could tell it was the same house - just after an unfortunate remodeling. A similar house a couple blocks from me had it's nice porch torn off about 30 years ago, but the new owners rebuilt the porch last year in the original style.
