And Now For Something Completely Different

[launderess]

The things you see when you haven't got your gun! *LOL*

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Snow-Wh...2666QQihZ020QQcategoryZ12QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[cehalstead]

something different

There is a house (actually it's a mansion) in Charleston with a gas fired drying cabinet similar to this built into one of the kitchen walls. As far as I know, it is still functional. However, the last time I was in the home was in 1985, so it could be gone. I doubt it though, because the house is still occupied by the people who moved into it in the early 40's.

 

[thirtyater]

Now we know where Maytag got their inspiration!

 

[gansky1]

I saw one of these, about five times this size in an apartment building here. It had roll-out racks for hanging clothes on - perfect for areas there was no outside drying space. I can't imagine how hot this would have been to use...

 

[brettsomers]

there was something similar in the home ec kitchen in my old junior high. the junior high was an old school.

 

[lederstiefel1]

cabinet dryer

I have one, too! But a modern, electrical one which can even disinfect all kind of items with very hot air (130°C)!
I like cabinet-dryers best, because of the lack of abbrasion. They were once very popular in Britain during last century (1920-50th) and still are in Sweden and/or Scandinavia.
The most amazing thing is that you can dry everything in them: woollens, silk, leather, shoes, bags and fur-coats even fruits or herbs! There's only one thing, that doesn't dry very well: bulky feather duvets; for that purpose tumblers are far better.
Ralf from Germany

 

[washerboy]

baking clothes

Ralf:...do things come out stiff and wrinkled? I thought the tumbling action was what made the fabric softer less wrinkled?

 

[brisnat81]

They were common here

Up until the mid to late 70's.

There were usually 2 types, freestanding electric with a blower fan, and static heat, which were usually built in around the hotwater tank, or fireplace.

In Australia back then all washing was hung up, either on the line outside, or clothes horses inside. Tumble dryers didnt become affordable or accepted up until the late 70's early 80's. Even now anyone over 40 is still reluctant to use them, when the laundry could be hung up instead. The washing was no stiffer than when it was line dried. But yes thats stiffer than when its tumbled.

 

[launderess]

My vintage Mary Proctor ironing book, circa 1940, mentions this sort of dryer, so guess they were common enough "back in the day".

When one thinks of it nothing more than a contained version of hanging one's laundry on racks suspended above the AGA, which is how many homes in England/UK/Europe have done for ages.

Am told that often estates or large homes would have large "airing rooms" or even cupboards with a range for drying laundry indoors. FWIW built in linen presses/cupboards were often recommended to be on the opposite side of a wall with a range, or room where the heating pipes went through so it was warm. In damp climates such as parts of England/UK mould could take hold easily in an unheated/damp linen storage area.

L.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Airing cupboards...

...are still pretty much commonplace round here in Britain - even in new homes. We have a little one tucked away above the hot water storage tank in the bathroom next to the shower - not enough room to dry laundry in but is a nice place to keep towels and sheets warm in. Also it seems to help you get away with ironing, if you put unironed but folded sheets in the airing cupboard 2 or 3 days later, or by the time you next need them, they will come out nice and flat. (Of course you can just take my lazy approach as you can see in the picture and chuck everything in a haphazard way... I really need to sort that out soon!). My nana's airing cupboard is slightly larger, and the hot water tank is tucked away in a corner which gives her hanging space in there and she will often hang dry things on hangers in there when the weather is too cold to use the washing line.

BTW, in the pic, the hot water tank is below the shelf with the towels on and is accessed through the bottom set of doors.

However - if anybody wants a massive airing room/cupboard, you should all go visit Darren (newwave1). His airing cupboard is easily twice the size of my kitchen!

Jon

 

[lavamat_jon]

Doors closed

 

[askomiele]

How does is really work? I can't understand why the hotwater tank is the provider of the warmed air for drying? Here all watertanks are isolated and don't heat up any air. And I'm heat my house with a old aga cooker!!(really funny to heat and cook with wood?!) so no fire place heat unless I'm hanging my laundry in the kitchen/living room witch is not really a good idea! I'm thinking of letting run a hotwater pipe though a closet upstairs to make something like a drying-closet...

 

[lavamat_jon]

There is the hot water tank underneath which gives out some heat, and then there are also several hot water pipes going through the airing cupboard (you can't see them too well in the photo) which provide the warmth. It's not an actual dryer per se (hence the name airing cupboard), but it is a very handy addition to have. Plus nothing beats getting warm, fresh towels out of it on a cold winter's morning!

It really is just a cupboard for a hot water tank but over the years the general trend has been to put shelves etc to air laundry, which stems down from the idea Launderess mentioned about airing rooms. You can't really dry things in ours, but as I said before my nana's also has a hanging rail and it does dry about 5 or 6 items on hangers quite nicely. Of course it wouldn't be able to dry a full 6 kilo load or anything.

Jon

 

[sudsman]

These Are still made

Cissell still makes them. they have them for steam or electric. We priced them about a year ago and they sell for around 4000.00 depending on which model you want.

 

[lavamat_jon]

Asko make a smaller, home version too which has been sold in Scandinanvia for a few years I believe, but has only been recently released on the US & UK markets.

Jon

http://www.johnlewis.com/Home+and+G.../+Drying+Cabinets/4500/230402227/Product.aspx

 

[polkanut]

One of the old mansions here in town had one of these. It was part of the central heating system, which was originally coal and/or wood fired. It was still intact as of 5 years ago when the house was renovated/restored.

 

[launderess]

AskoMiele

You're comparing today's well insulated hot water boilers/heaters and pipes to yesterdays, and they are not the same. Many older boilers/hot water heaters/tanks became so hot one could get burned by touching them. Indeed like ranges they were often behind railings to keep wee ones away.

Speaking of ranges, you have not felt heat until you've been in kitchen with an AGA or similar range. Aga's are quite capable if heating an entire kitchen to almost uncomfortable temperatures. This is not a problem if one lives in a damp/cold climate, but certianly would cause problems say if one lived in a warmer climate. Cannot understand why so many Americans living in the deep south, or even parts of the Northeast want an Aga, as it most certinaly will be off more of the year than on because of the heat.

Home design years ago, always made use of heat that was already being generated for other things. Scores of children over the years grew up drying their mittens and winter outer garments by hanging them near or over those cast iron radiators common in many homes with hot water/steam central heating.

Airing cupboards or placing linen storage areas near sources of heat is not an accident of design, but a way of dealing with the problem of rising damp/mould in areas where the climate is cool/cold and damp for a good part of the year.

L.