Apartment Size Antique Clothes Washing Machine - $40 (Barron)

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Purchase price of $45.37 in 1950 dollars as shown on invoice is equal to $446.31 in 2014.

Have seen plenty of Monitor washing machines but none with the owner's manual which makes that and the other documents rather rare I should think.

Apartment washer is about correct. Machine did the washing and rinsing, you did the extracting via wringer and hand power.
 
said to have replaced the rowing machine. :p)

Wife's grandma kept a diary - late 1800's account of daily life on the farm - washing was a major day activity; no mention of a machine, per se.
 
In the 1800's laundry was almost a three day affair

Depending upon one's religious views about working on the Sabbath....

Laundry was gathered up and sorted on Sunday evening.

Whites would be put to soak overnight in a tub of water with a bit of perhaps soda and or soap.

Monday began the washing by hand or whatever means. This was an orgy of soap, heated water, boiling, rinsing, rinsing, rinsing, bluing (if needed for whites), then finally mangling and hanging wash on the line.

Tuesday washing was taken down from lines (if dried) then sprinkled and allowed to rest over night.

Wednesday was ironing time and then laundry was allowed to cool before being put away folded. Four days later (Sunday) the whole thing started all over again.

By the l950's this little contraption would have saved some effort, long as one had indoor plumbing for hot water. If one lived in an cold water flat apartment then it would be back to boiling pots or kettles for hot water for washing.
 
...I don't recall reading her details; need to see if we can fetch that page and post the notes- can appreciate it w/o posting it, though and certainly if it was three days in the late1800's(1880-90's). I'm thirsty from thinking of the workout they had.
 

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