I remember when I was a teen in the early 1990s there was a laundry center in Duesseldorf where they had coin-operated dry-cleaning machines. Nothing special on them, no push buttons, no lights, no strange symbols. They must have been out of order for a long time so I unfortunatley could not test them myself. Think they worked with tetrachloroethylene though... Anyone ever had their own experiences with such machines?
Memories on coin-op dry-cleaning
- Thread starter chris74
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They landed with much fanfare here in the early 1960s. Many coin laundry suppliers introduced them in their coin-op stores: Philco, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Norge and later, Speed Queen. They were sort of triggered by the invention of washer-dryer combinations, except in the case of Frigidaire. In those days of cheap petrochemicals, you could do an 8 lb. load for $2.50. Often, finishing in a steam cabinet for about 50 cents extra was needed for best results. This was at a time when coin washers cost 25 cents a load and the dryers were 10 cents for ten minutes. A lot of people used them. There were some problems with clothes that were not properly aired after the cleaning including the tragic case of a child who died on a family camping trip in a sleeping bag that had recently been through a coin-op dry cleaning machine and then just packed away. They needed expert maintenance and used toxic chemicals. There were cases where the "Perk" leaked into the air of the laundry during the last minutes of the drying process (when the air in the drying chamber with small residual amounts of the solvent was vented outside) and combined with the gas flames in the dryers to produce compounds that ate holes in the clothes as they dried. The one thing that they never proved to be was "self-service." There had to be an attendant on duty. All but the Frigidaire machines used one machine for the process. Frigidaire used two machines in a cabinet, a "washer" and just above it and at a right angle to the "washer", a dryer. Because the items had to be transferred from the "washer" to the dryer while saturated with the Perk, the ceiling of the cabinet housing the dry cleaner concealed a very powerful exhaust fan to keep the operator from inhaling the fumes. I still wonder about the long term health effects on the attendants, especially the ones who smoked. The "washer" part had a lid that could only be opened with a key and the dryer door might have had an electric lock. I just remember that if there was not an attendant present, it could not be opened or used.
The last time I had any experience with one was in the late 70s when I took a wool coat to a place that had the WP machines. The price was up to $10 and they were behind a counter. The lumpenfrau attendant brushed off my interest in watching; just told me to come back in an hour. Having had a WP combo to play with a decade earlier, I was interested in seeing if the dry cleaners spun faster than the combo and if it would even spin at all with only one heavy coat in the machine. I suspect she knew there should be other stuff in with my heavy coat and did not want me to see that customers who paid $10 for a load had their stuff combined with someone else's for a new spin on being taken to the cleaners at the cleaners.
The last time I had any experience with one was in the late 70s when I took a wool coat to a place that had the WP machines. The price was up to $10 and they were behind a counter. The lumpenfrau attendant brushed off my interest in watching; just told me to come back in an hour. Having had a WP combo to play with a decade earlier, I was interested in seeing if the dry cleaners spun faster than the combo and if it would even spin at all with only one heavy coat in the machine. I suspect she knew there should be other stuff in with my heavy coat and did not want me to see that customers who paid $10 for a load had their stuff combined with someone else's for a new spin on being taken to the cleaners at the cleaners.
Interesting....
I do not know if - in that special launderette - there had to be an assistant but in the late 70ies throughout the 90ies there were many dry cleaning stores around here in Germany. Almost every shopping center had one, which I loved to watch if they had the machine (mostly Boewe) in the showroom. There were not too many thoughts on the side effects of "Per" as we call it. Nowadays they tried to get a "greener" image by using liquid carbondioxide and stuff...
I do not know if - in that special launderette - there had to be an assistant but in the late 70ies throughout the 90ies there were many dry cleaning stores around here in Germany. Almost every shopping center had one, which I loved to watch if they had the machine (mostly Boewe) in the showroom. There were not too many thoughts on the side effects of "Per" as we call it. Nowadays they tried to get a "greener" image by using liquid carbondioxide and stuff...
The Norge Villages had those coin-op dry cleaning machines around here and they worked quite well. I used to use them frequently because they were so inexpensive. They always had a container with spot remover you could pre-treat, weigh the load and put the appropriate amount of quarters in. Its too bad the EPA put a ban on them instead of retrofitting them to the new way they do it now.
washerboy
Well-known member
polly-clean
at one time we had a polly-clean (or Klean I don't remember); they had several dry cleaning machines but you had to let the person behind the counter load up your stuff. My mom never used them and I never saw anyone using either..this was in the early to mid 70's. I never realized the machines used toxic chemicials...so: Where did the used chemicials go? were they discharged into the local sewer system? sounds pertty dangerous with flames and fumes.
at one time we had a polly-clean (or Klean I don't remember); they had several dry cleaning machines but you had to let the person behind the counter load up your stuff. My mom never used them and I never saw anyone using either..this was in the early to mid 70's. I never realized the machines used toxic chemicials...so: Where did the used chemicials go? were they discharged into the local sewer system? sounds pertty dangerous with flames and fumes.
The process was quite amazing. The same solvent that cleaned the clothes was used as a refrigerant for condensing the solvent vapor out of the 75 degree dryer air to return it to the tank in which it was kept. The solvent had to pass through filters during and after each use to be free from shmutz. This was mostly a closed system so very little of the solvent excaped, BUT, at the end, the drying chamber had to be ventilated with fresh air to remove the remaining traces of the solvent. And, of course, customers were told to thoroughly air out items before putting them away at home.
easyspindry
Well-known member
I used a Whirlpool . . .
. . . dry cleaning machine a few times. I think it was a Poly-Klean coin op laundry which had only Whirlpool machines. The dry cleaning machines worked just fine, but somehow they never really caught on. I do remember a chemical odor in the clothes afterward.
It was an inexpensive way to get dry cleaning done. But, as has been stated already, it cost only a quarter to wash a load of clothes in a regular washing machine and about 20 or 30 cents to dry.
The dry cleaning machines were something like $2.50 for an 8 pound load and there had to be an attendant there when the machines were run.
On one occasion, I was able to peek through a door into a room that housed the rear of the machines. I didn't know what I was looking at, but it looked awfully complicated back there.
I believe this was in the early 1960's.
Yesterday, I had occasion to visit a coin op laundry. It was Wascomat equipment. We did a large load for $2.50. The dryers were a quarter for 5 minutes. Quite a difference from the 60's.
Jerry Gay
Jerry Gay
. . . dry cleaning machine a few times. I think it was a Poly-Klean coin op laundry which had only Whirlpool machines. The dry cleaning machines worked just fine, but somehow they never really caught on. I do remember a chemical odor in the clothes afterward.
It was an inexpensive way to get dry cleaning done. But, as has been stated already, it cost only a quarter to wash a load of clothes in a regular washing machine and about 20 or 30 cents to dry.
The dry cleaning machines were something like $2.50 for an 8 pound load and there had to be an attendant there when the machines were run.
On one occasion, I was able to peek through a door into a room that housed the rear of the machines. I didn't know what I was looking at, but it looked awfully complicated back there.
I believe this was in the early 1960's.
Yesterday, I had occasion to visit a coin op laundry. It was Wascomat equipment. We did a large load for $2.50. The dryers were a quarter for 5 minutes. Quite a difference from the 60's.
Jerry Gay
Jerry Gay
mikeklondon
New member
Cost in Uk
Hi My Local coin op still has one, I go there a few times a year to wash a very heavy bed cover in there 50lb load washer, I noted that the cost for cleaning an 8 lb load was about £9.00 not sure what that would be in $ at the moment. The cost of using a 50lb washer is £7.00 washer there is no extractor to it then cost £6/7 in the dryer.
Hi My Local coin op still has one, I go there a few times a year to wash a very heavy bed cover in there 50lb load washer, I noted that the cost for cleaning an 8 lb load was about £9.00 not sure what that would be in $ at the moment. The cost of using a 50lb washer is £7.00 washer there is no extractor to it then cost £6/7 in the dryer.
Costs
Dry-cleaning with full service has always been expensive. I believe a single shirt would be around 3 €... There were never coin-op only dry-cleaners over here...
Yes, it is true: the filtering was a complicated thing but all of the Perc was somehow re-distilled and re-used for the next load. I wonder why they never had problems with shrinking because the machines also dried the clothes, even delicate woolens. But I believe the Perc needed just a lower temperature to condense than water.
A 50 lb. washer? That is impressive, the laundry centers here have max. 12 kg machines, mostly only 10...
Dry-cleaning with full service has always been expensive. I believe a single shirt would be around 3 €... There were never coin-op only dry-cleaners over here...
Yes, it is true: the filtering was a complicated thing but all of the Perc was somehow re-distilled and re-used for the next load. I wonder why they never had problems with shrinking because the machines also dried the clothes, even delicate woolens. But I believe the Perc needed just a lower temperature to condense than water.
A 50 lb. washer? That is impressive, the laundry centers here have max. 12 kg machines, mostly only 10...
mikeklondon
New member
Coin Op's UK
Hi
Next time I visit I'll take a few pics and post, They only have 1 50lb machine and 2 35lb the rest are 18lb they have a large extractor as well but have been waiting for parts for a long time. I dont think they are pushing to fix it as you have spend 3x the amount in the dryer. They also have 2 TRI wax machines for washing feather duvet's and pillows + the one dry cleaner.
Hi
Next time I visit I'll take a few pics and post, They only have 1 50lb machine and 2 35lb the rest are 18lb they have a large extractor as well but have been waiting for parts for a long time. I dont think they are pushing to fix it as you have spend 3x the amount in the dryer. They also have 2 TRI wax machines for washing feather duvet's and pillows + the one dry cleaner.
perc
The dry-cleaning machinery uses a bout 40-60 degree Celsius to dry and special woolens can go down to 25-35 c.this is possible sins the perc evaporates at 20-30 dgr and with a chiller it turns in to a liquid again .i in my dryclean i uses 45 dgr and a 30 lbs load is dry in 18 min . total cyl 45 min dry to dry. the old coin up machinery also used F113 solvent witch is baned . it was a fluor carbon
The dry-cleaning machinery uses a bout 40-60 degree Celsius to dry and special woolens can go down to 25-35 c.this is possible sins the perc evaporates at 20-30 dgr and with a chiller it turns in to a liquid again .i in my dryclean i uses 45 dgr and a 30 lbs load is dry in 18 min . total cyl 45 min dry to dry. the old coin up machinery also used F113 solvent witch is baned . it was a fluor carbon
dnastrau
Well-known member
Coin op "HYPUR" dry-cleaning machines in the '70
I recall seeing some coin-op dry-cleaning machines in Bloomington, Indiana back in 1976 or so that I believe were branded "HYPUR." They sort of looked like a small coin-op dryer but with a rectangular window. I don't remember actually seeing anyone use them.
I recall seeing some coin-op dry-cleaning machines in Bloomington, Indiana back in 1976 or so that I believe were branded "HYPUR." They sort of looked like a small coin-op dryer but with a rectangular window. I don't remember actually seeing anyone use them.
whirlcool
Well-known member
Our local NorgeVillage had dry cleaning machines. You put your own clothing in the machine and then told the attendant what you had in there and she would tell you to come back in a few hours.
My mother would use this service to spring clean the living room and dining room drapes. When she would pick them up they'd be pleated and banded. You took them home and then hung them up and a few days later cut the bands.
The house really had that "dry clean" smell for a few days afterwards.
Little did we know back then....
My mother would use this service to spring clean the living room and dining room drapes. When she would pick them up they'd be pleated and banded. You took them home and then hung them up and a few days later cut the bands.
The house really had that "dry clean" smell for a few days afterwards.
Little did we know back then....
dj-gabriele
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2007
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- 1,685
The same solvent that cleaned the clothes was used as a refr
Gosh, those were the times of chlorofluorocarbon solvents, eww! Like R113.
Also venting perc et simila in the laundry?! Gosh I'm so glad we always had closed circuit machines!
I think I'd be scared to use such a machine...
Even our old Bowe dry-cleaner of the 80s was closed circuit and with recovery of vapors during drying! And our current ILSA one is leak proof and totally closed circuit too.
Gosh, those were the times of chlorofluorocarbon solvents, eww! Like R113.
Also venting perc et simila in the laundry?! Gosh I'm so glad we always had closed circuit machines!
I think I'd be scared to use such a machine...
Even our old Bowe dry-cleaner of the 80s was closed circuit and with recovery of vapors during drying! And our current ILSA one is leak proof and totally closed circuit too.
bendixmark
Well-known member
Westy Drycleaners
When I was very young my mother used to take me into a drycleaners run by this nice man named Mr. Macadino and his store had these 4 beautiful coin operated westinghouse drycleaners from the mid 50s.They were the same design as the westy combo and the tub had a lint filter that flowed into the load as it washed which was spectacular.There were lights on either side of the machine,one said wash and the other said dry depending on what it was doing.One of my fondest childhood memories.
When I was very young my mother used to take me into a drycleaners run by this nice man named Mr. Macadino and his store had these 4 beautiful coin operated westinghouse drycleaners from the mid 50s.They were the same design as the westy combo and the tub had a lint filter that flowed into the load as it washed which was spectacular.There were lights on either side of the machine,one said wash and the other said dry depending on what it was doing.One of my fondest childhood memories.
launderall
Active member
Watched the building & attended the grand opening of the NORGE Viking Village laundry & self serve dry cleaners. Check out this websight if you liked the polka dot balls!
www.agilitynut.com
Agilitynut - Conseils aménagement, rénovation, travaux & décoration
Conseils aménagement, rénovation, travaux & décoration
www.agilitynut.com
Gary, Thanks for the link to the photos. That is some long enduring plastic, out in the UV rays, heat & cold and still bright and shiny.
dryclean1
Well-known member
drycleaner of 20years
I was a drycleaner and spotter for 20 years. From 1990 until 2010.the shop I started at used to have a Laundromat in the 60s with those coin-op drycleaning units. the drycleaner that I learned from used to service them back then. He was in the biz for 50 years. These machines did use perc. Which is the solvent that I used for the better part of my career. It is very toxic if not used properly by trained people. The vapors when heated in a regular dryer can produce dangerous fumes. Before I left the biz we had gone to all hydrocarbon machines. In ny state the regs are very loose. The dec would love to outlaw perc. If anyone has any dryclean questions feel free to contact me @stonefinger149@yahoo thanks Bill
I was a drycleaner and spotter for 20 years. From 1990 until 2010.the shop I started at used to have a Laundromat in the 60s with those coin-op drycleaning units. the drycleaner that I learned from used to service them back then. He was in the biz for 50 years. These machines did use perc. Which is the solvent that I used for the better part of my career. It is very toxic if not used properly by trained people. The vapors when heated in a regular dryer can produce dangerous fumes. Before I left the biz we had gone to all hydrocarbon machines. In ny state the regs are very loose. The dec would love to outlaw perc. If anyone has any dryclean questions feel free to contact me @stonefinger149@yahoo thanks Bill
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