Memories on coin-op dry-cleaning

[cornutt]

I have distinct memories of the self-service machines at the Norge Village here. Unlike what some others have said above, you did not need to work with the attendant at this Village to use the machines, although there was an attendant on duty if you needed help. (They offered drop-off and full service, so there was an attendant there anyway.) The models I remember had two big rectangular indicator lights. One said "IN USE" and was lit while the machine was running. The other said "DO NOT USE"; I guess it was tied to a timer that measured when the filter needed cleaning. Sometimes the "DO NOT USE" would come on in the middle of a cycle, but it always finished the cycle anyway.

A few times I was allowed in the back to see the solvent handling system. There was a big tank where it was stored; distribution piping to fill and drain the machines, and a set of vent ducts that I think held the condensors and also vented the machine to the outside at the end of the cycle. Outside the building you could smell it, and if you stuck your head inside the machine right after the cycle completed the fumes would make you dizzy.

Off to one side, there was a countertop for prepping clothes to be dry cleaned. There was a big sign that explained all of the prep steps you were supposed to do; I don't remember it all, but some of it consisted of removing plastic buttons (which might dissolve in the solvent), turning ladies' blouses inside out (why?), and pre-treating spots. There were two water sprayers on long hoses with a sign that said in big letters, "THIS IS WATER", and advised not to use too much because it could cause shrinkage.

There were IIRC 10 machines, and during the day most of them would be in use (some being used by the store for its drop-off service). My mom used to use one occasionally, and I remember going in a few times and having to wait for one. I think the cycle took about an hour, maybe a bit less. There was also a big 20-lb. or so machine which cost something like $5 a load; although it had a coin acceptor, it was usually more conveninet to pay the attendant and then get them to start it with a key.

The last time I remember seeing the machines in service was in the early '80s, when I lived in a nearby apartment building. I moved away for a while and didn't go back there until about 1990, by which time the machines were all broken down and some of them had been disassembled. Shortly after, they were gone.

 

[laundromat]

Fortunately, the folks where I grew up had lots of dirty laundry and there were lots of laundry centers to choose from.NorgeTown, Westinghouse Laundromat, Sunshine Laundry(Philco Bendix), CoinClean (FRIGIDAIRE), Whirlpool , and Speed Queen (similar to Philco Bendix) . The Frigidaires we had were all turquoise and had fluorescent lighting above the washer.Its lid had the circular window and they charged $8.00/8 pound load. The Westinghouse Laundromats had the slanted front and were at a reasonable level to load or unload. The Norge models were lined up and some were not drycleaning combos but used water and were coin op washer dryer comhos. The Whirlpools were among the fewest repair models and the Bendix models were my favorite for many reasons. Mostly because they had the best results in getting suites really clean. I had the chance twice to get one. The Frigidaire which was two sets,not just one. And, the Norge. That one I missed by just a few hours. The Norge was still in use before they rebuilt/renewed that laundry. They went from Norge to Kenmore commercial machines. What a mistake that was. Those machines were all replaced with Wascomat units. In commercial laundry equipment, my preference is Dexter. Their front loaders do a great job in a little time. We have a great commercial laundry here using all the Dexters made for coin op use.Rarely do I see any of them out of order.Scott,the owner,and I talk a lot about the users and their private methods of doing laundry. He and I were talking about differences among the many commercial machines made today and ,after talking about the difference between the top loading Whirlpool units he had a row of seven of being a problem because they were braking down 12 times more frequently then the Dexters. One week later, they were all replaced with Double Loaders. I love that place!!! I stop at Subway,get a half veg. Sub and go and watch the many rows of Dexters get used,abused and shined up because the attendants have been well taught in keeping all he machines so clean and shiny. Scott asked me if I'd ever be interested in buying the place. I told him ,if he'd asked me that back in 2011, I would have taken him up on it.

 

[jetcone]

Like Cornutt

My mom used to use the Norge Dry Cleaners from time to time, and you could get a nice whiff right after the load finished but you could also smell it outdoors in the parking lot. It was like fresh ditto paper in school.

I loved the turquoise color of the machines and the cool oval doors on the Norge's. But the tub enamel was a really dark navy and so you really couldn't see inside unless when the clothes sloshed against the window.

 

[cornutt]

That's right, they were dark inside and it was hard to see what was going on. I was always kind of disappointed that it didn't spray the solvent into the tub where you could see it -- I think there was only one fill/drain line, so it filled from the bottom. The glass got really warm during the dry cycle.

L's article reminded me that there was briefly a Norgetown here, around 1970. I only ever remember being in there once. It didn't stay in business very long; almost immediately after it opened, the neighborhood it was in declined severely. I don't recall any water-using combos in there, and the Village definitely never had any.