Article: The Decline of the American Laundromat
- Thread starter stricklybojack
- Start date
Help Support :
That article states: While the first self-serve laundromat opened in 1934 in Fort Worth, Texas, the industry didn’t really take off until the ’50s, after many cities became more densely populated.
I question the accuracy of that, the Bendix wasn't introduced until 1937.
I question the accuracy of that, the Bendix wasn't introduced until 1937.
What if the machines were wringers?
Bob
They did exist. I was in the car with my parents driving through the backwoods of (South Georgia or Northern Florida) in the deep-south back in the fifties. We stopped for fuel and lunch and I remember a place with all wringers next door. It was an open-air building with a couple dozen Maytag Wringers of different vintage. There were some really old ones and the first ones I ever saw with the skirt-only Gyratator. That's how I found out how badly they tangled----- watching the women using them untangle the mess. Each position had a set-sink and provisions for water. The floor was just a concrete slab with drains in it near the machines. People would just drop the hose to the floor to drain the tubs. There was an attendant that collected the money and wandered around giving advice and help. People just took their laundry home to dry on their own lines as there were no dryers. No telling how long it had been there, however, some of those machines had those old metal Gyratators in them. Since 1934 was the heighth of the "Great Depression" it makes sense to me that these old, somewhat primitive, self-serve places existed before automatics arrived on the scene.
They did exist. I was in the car with my parents driving through the backwoods of (South Georgia or Northern Florida) in the deep-south back in the fifties. We stopped for fuel and lunch and I remember a place with all wringers next door. It was an open-air building with a couple dozen Maytag Wringers of different vintage. There were some really old ones and the first ones I ever saw with the skirt-only Gyratator. That's how I found out how badly they tangled----- watching the women using them untangle the mess. Each position had a set-sink and provisions for water. The floor was just a concrete slab with drains in it near the machines. People would just drop the hose to the floor to drain the tubs. There was an attendant that collected the money and wandered around giving advice and help. People just took their laundry home to dry on their own lines as there were no dryers. No telling how long it had been there, however, some of those machines had those old metal Gyratators in them. Since 1934 was the heighth of the "Great Depression" it makes sense to me that these old, somewhat primitive, self-serve places existed before automatics arrived on the scene.
I know of only one person who wouldn't trade her laundromat for residential equipment. "I can do six loads in an hour-and-a-half!"
I chose the apartment I moved to last week because I'd have my own washer/dryer and a garage space. That's how much I don't like going to the laundromat.
In an age where people think nothing of dropping $400-800 on a cell phone every couple of years, the price of lower-end washers and dryers is a bargain. It constitutes a far smaller percentage of a person's income than it did in, say, 1970.
I chose the apartment I moved to last week because I'd have my own washer/dryer and a garage space. That's how much I don't like going to the laundromat.
In an age where people think nothing of dropping $400-800 on a cell phone every couple of years, the price of lower-end washers and dryers is a bargain. It constitutes a far smaller percentage of a person's income than it did in, say, 1970.
A wringer washer laundromat makes sense that didn't even dawn on me.
"I can do six loads in an hour-and-a-half!
So can I lol, sans laundromat and leaving the house ;-)
"I can do six loads in an hour-and-a-half!
So can I lol, sans laundromat and leaving the house ;-)
I would hope Robert, she had plenty of kids to help and drag the wet laundry home and has a big enough clothesline and lots of clothespins, LOL, six loads!
I wonder what Peter H. Would have to say about this article?
warmsecondrinse
Well-known member
I give up. What is an "on demand laundry app"?
"'Offering a washer and dryer in-unit is a trend we’re certainly seeing,' ... 'A recent survey ... found the addition of washers and dryers to be one of the most common upgrades to apartments in recent years.'"
I suspect this trend is creeping downscale as well. Now that I think about it, every renovation and new construction I'm aware of has been designed for Euro-sized units. I wonder if that's a general urban trend or unique to NYC and other densely populated areas.
"'Offering a washer and dryer in-unit is a trend we’re certainly seeing,' ... 'A recent survey ... found the addition of washers and dryers to be one of the most common upgrades to apartments in recent years.'"
I suspect this trend is creeping downscale as well. Now that I think about it, every renovation and new construction I'm aware of has been designed for Euro-sized units. I wonder if that's a general urban trend or unique to NYC and other densely populated areas.
Laundry apps.
Thought one posted about such things before:
https://www.brickunderground.com/blog/2015/03/laundry_delivery_reviews_nyc
https://flycleaners.com/
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/big-city-perks-8-life-changing-laundry-delivery-apps-235163
http://www.businessinsider.com/laundry-apps-save-time-not-money-2014-8
But for those who wish to do things themselves:
https://www.tracysnewyorklife.com/2015/03/nyc-laundromat-beginners-guide
Thought one posted about such things before:
https://www.brickunderground.com/blog/2015/03/laundry_delivery_reviews_nyc
https://flycleaners.com/
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/big-city-perks-8-life-changing-laundry-delivery-apps-235163
http://www.businessinsider.com/laundry-apps-save-time-not-money-2014-8
But for those who wish to do things themselves:
https://www.tracysnewyorklife.com/2015/03/nyc-laundromat-beginners-guide
Believe one has spoken about this before
Laundromats and or even laundries have been vanishing from New York City and elsewhere at a rapid pace.
Much of this is as OP linked article spells out; the land they are on is worth more than the business. This applies to owners of the property and or those who rent. The latter are impacted because higher land values tend either to have landlords sell, and then the property is redeveloped. This and or rents go up and places simply cannot afford.
None of this even touches things such as changing demographics and population shifts.
Here in NYC having en suite washer and dryer has become nearly mandatory for apartments selling/renting about a certain number. Persons spending million or millions for an apartment, or several thousand in rent don't like being told they have to use laundryettes or whatever. It is rather like automatic dishwashers have become nearly standard kitchen equipment.
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/articl...50319908/once-a-fixture-laundromats-disappear
Laundromats and or even laundries have been vanishing from New York City and elsewhere at a rapid pace.
Much of this is as OP linked article spells out; the land they are on is worth more than the business. This applies to owners of the property and or those who rent. The latter are impacted because higher land values tend either to have landlords sell, and then the property is redeveloped. This and or rents go up and places simply cannot afford.
None of this even touches things such as changing demographics and population shifts.
Here in NYC having en suite washer and dryer has become nearly mandatory for apartments selling/renting about a certain number. Persons spending million or millions for an apartment, or several thousand in rent don't like being told they have to use laundryettes or whatever. It is rather like automatic dishwashers have become nearly standard kitchen equipment.
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/articl...50319908/once-a-fixture-laundromats-disappear
I don't have a reason to go to a laundromat...
...nor would I want to. Germs, grime and crud galore. I'd have to run a bleach cycle on empty on any washer I would use, and use a heavy-duty degreaser to remove baked-on grime, skin oil residue and God knows what else baked on the drum of the dryer. The fact that commercial dryers can kill most bacteria does not assuage me. It would be a chore in of itself, hence my name 'superocd'.
However, I would take time to stop at an old laundromat to use old the old Wascomat W1xx series. I love it when the relays click into the spin cycle and the big whistle it would make when it would spin down. I would feel especially happy if I could use an old Hoyt, Troy Laundrite ("Big Boy"), Cook Aldwash/Aldry and a plethora of pre-1980s machines that are simply not around any more.
I was a 90s kid but I feel like I've missed out on some pretty interesting machines. I only went to the laundromat three times a year, when we washed bedspreads and curtains that would not fit in our GE Filter Flo at home. The machines there were the ubiquitous 1980s Wascomat/Huebsch Loadstar combos. The new computerized Alliance/Wasco/etc. stuff, while good, is pretty boring -- every laundromat has these now. I guess they kind of have to because parts are probably nonexistent for older machines, as are many of the manufacturers, and they are certainly not water and energy efficient. The washers filled way above the glass door and had no sensors to determine how much water to use and the dryers had standing pilots and ran hot.
...nor would I want to. Germs, grime and crud galore. I'd have to run a bleach cycle on empty on any washer I would use, and use a heavy-duty degreaser to remove baked-on grime, skin oil residue and God knows what else baked on the drum of the dryer. The fact that commercial dryers can kill most bacteria does not assuage me. It would be a chore in of itself, hence my name 'superocd'.
However, I would take time to stop at an old laundromat to use old the old Wascomat W1xx series. I love it when the relays click into the spin cycle and the big whistle it would make when it would spin down. I would feel especially happy if I could use an old Hoyt, Troy Laundrite ("Big Boy"), Cook Aldwash/Aldry and a plethora of pre-1980s machines that are simply not around any more.
I was a 90s kid but I feel like I've missed out on some pretty interesting machines. I only went to the laundromat three times a year, when we washed bedspreads and curtains that would not fit in our GE Filter Flo at home. The machines there were the ubiquitous 1980s Wascomat/Huebsch Loadstar combos. The new computerized Alliance/Wasco/etc. stuff, while good, is pretty boring -- every laundromat has these now. I guess they kind of have to because parts are probably nonexistent for older machines, as are many of the manufacturers, and they are certainly not water and energy efficient. The washers filled way above the glass door and had no sensors to determine how much water to use and the dryers had standing pilots and ran hot.
Really don't like laundrettes any longer
Only truly go when things are too big for doing at home, and or so much it would take several loads (and thus all day) in the Miele or AEG washers. When get the hang of using Maytag wringer this may change as well.
Frist and foremost cannot abide the near universal practice of either laundry workers or customers piling their dirty laundry into the carts. You know the carts one is supposed to unload just washed laundry. So one brings a plastic bin liner and laundry basket. Former goes down first inside cart, then latter, finally laundry. This applies to unloading washer or dryer.
Two, the water never really is hot enough IMHO for proper sanitation. Well it might be coming out of the taps, but the first cold pre-rinse will leave washing sufficiently chilled enough to bring down overall temp.
Three, the dryers are coated inside from those fabric softener sheets. People use two, three or more per load. As such your washing is going become "softened" regardless.
Only truly go when things are too big for doing at home, and or so much it would take several loads (and thus all day) in the Miele or AEG washers. When get the hang of using Maytag wringer this may change as well.
Frist and foremost cannot abide the near universal practice of either laundry workers or customers piling their dirty laundry into the carts. You know the carts one is supposed to unload just washed laundry. So one brings a plastic bin liner and laundry basket. Former goes down first inside cart, then latter, finally laundry. This applies to unloading washer or dryer.
Two, the water never really is hot enough IMHO for proper sanitation. Well it might be coming out of the taps, but the first cold pre-rinse will leave washing sufficiently chilled enough to bring down overall temp.
Three, the dryers are coated inside from those fabric softener sheets. People use two, three or more per load. As such your washing is going become "softened" regardless.
gusherb
Well-known member
Those are my complaints about the local laundromat exactly. I only go when it involves washing things too big or too nasty for my SQ.
"Bendix wasn't introduced until 1937"
In April 1937, John F. Cantrell opened the first self operated electric laundry in Fort Worth, Texas. Customers paid to rent machines on an hourly basis. Name of the new service was Washerteria.
http://thebronxchronicle.com/2017/04/17/profile-america-first-laundromat/
Westinghouse got into the coin operated laundry business in 1947 via their "Laundromat" washers (which explains why every darned spell check insists on capitalizing the word as a proper noun).
The other player in this field was Bendix who placed their coin operated their "Launderette" washers via a distributor (Telecoin).
Telecoin began actually distributing Bendix machines by late 1930's or early 1940's. But they did seem to concentrate on the "on premises market". Meaning apartment houses and so forth.
Either way Bendix, Telecoin, and Westinghouse all found themselves involved in anti-trust and other lawsuits.
http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/204/331/456554/
https://casetext.com/case/leonidakis-v-international-telecoin-corp
www.automaticwasher.org
In April 1937, John F. Cantrell opened the first self operated electric laundry in Fort Worth, Texas. Customers paid to rent machines on an hourly basis. Name of the new service was Washerteria.
http://thebronxchronicle.com/2017/04/17/profile-america-first-laundromat/
Westinghouse got into the coin operated laundry business in 1947 via their "Laundromat" washers (which explains why every darned spell check insists on capitalizing the word as a proper noun).
The other player in this field was Bendix who placed their coin operated their "Launderette" washers via a distributor (Telecoin).
Telecoin began actually distributing Bendix machines by late 1930's or early 1940's. But they did seem to concentrate on the "on premises market". Meaning apartment houses and so forth.
Either way Bendix, Telecoin, and Westinghouse all found themselves involved in anti-trust and other lawsuits.
http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/204/331/456554/
https://casetext.com/case/leonidakis-v-international-telecoin-corp
Vintage Laundromat pics
Found these on the MN Historical Society website. This was in North Minneapolis.
www.automaticwasher.org
We had "Snow White" Westinghouse washaterias but not a coin one. A line of washers bolted down and Cissal gas dryers with some extractor on the other side that every load out of the washers got put in it and spun almost dry. The nice ladies in their white uniforms did it all for you and you came back later, got your laundry but paid thru the nose in those days. This was in the 50's. There are very few coin laundromats left around here now. No Maytag Highlander Centers, Norge Villages with their big sphere on the roof, etc. How time changes.
The article is true. In my case, the recession for 2008 caused my business to start dropping, as the need for "migrant workers" diminished with the collapse of the building boom here. Then in 2011, GA passed an immigration bill fashioned after the AZ bill. Many Hispanic gathering places became ghost towns. All in all, I lost 60-70% of my business in one store, and about 20% at the other. That much of a drop left me with no money to effectively pay for repairs, certainly not enough to retool and upgrade machines. I've been limping along ever since.
Ahhhh the American Laudromat, how I used to love it!
@PeterH
This may or may not help, but here in NYC area many laundromats are moving to doing only service washes and or joining forces with various "apps" to take in work.
A good number of laundry app services here do not own any equipment, rather they contract out with various commercial laundries. That is what makes getting into such a business a bit easier; not having to outlay the cash and such much less own the equipment.
This may or may not help, but here in NYC area many laundromats are moving to doing only service washes and or joining forces with various "apps" to take in work.
A good number of laundry app services here do not own any equipment, rather they contract out with various commercial laundries. That is what makes getting into such a business a bit easier; not having to outlay the cash and such much less own the equipment.
