Oh My Dears!
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toggleswitch2
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NEAT!
Did anyne else notice the little light-bulbs(lamps) in rubber sockets behind the machines?
I wonder what this "pilot-light" is supposed to indicate. "ON"?
Did anyne else notice the little light-bulbs(lamps) in rubber sockets behind the machines?
I wonder what this "pilot-light" is supposed to indicate. "ON"?
When I was a child I went with my mother to the laundromat and on the Bendix machines they had there was a red lamp that indicated the moment for adding liquid bleach which had to be done manually. I have done that many times while my mother was away for shopping.
Found it!
I just searched the internet and guess what? I found a picture of the very laundromat that I went to as a child and also the date is right: 1966. Unfortunately only part of the laundromat is shown, but it's the important part with the row of washing machines. You can see the cans on each machine, one for soap (Persil, high sudsing: I've seen machines overflowing with foam many times), one for liquid chlorine bleach.
I just searched the internet and guess what? I found a picture of the very laundromat that I went to as a child and also the date is right: 1966. Unfortunately only part of the laundromat is shown, but it's the important part with the row of washing machines. You can see the cans on each machine, one for soap (Persil, high sudsing: I've seen machines overflowing with foam many times), one for liquid chlorine bleach.
autowasherfreak
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Pice
Nice picture. I remember going to the laundromat with my mom, and they would put soup or vegetable cans out to use as measuring cups. This was in the early 70's.
Nice picture. I remember going to the laundromat with my mom, and they would put soup or vegetable cans out to use as measuring cups. This was in the early 70's.
laundromat
Well-known member
Coin Clean
The FRIGIDAIRE equipped laundry I went to used the deep Action Agitator caps as ash trays!
The FRIGIDAIRE equipped laundry I went to used the deep Action Agitator caps as ash trays!
How Cool
This picture must be stored in our Archives!!!
This picture must be stored in our Archives!!!
This is very interesting.
I also have to wonder if there were any dryers in that 'mat, or you had to bring your wet clothes home and hang it up?
Also notice no coin boxes, these are standard Bendix washers. I suppose the attendent would start the machine for the customer. Notice also they gave away free "soap".
Good catch on the little bulb in the rubber socket Toggles, I would bet these are "in operation" lights. I would love to know what all of those signs say.
I also have to wonder if there were any dryers in that 'mat, or you had to bring your wet clothes home and hang it up?
Also notice no coin boxes, these are standard Bendix washers. I suppose the attendent would start the machine for the customer. Notice also they gave away free "soap".
Good catch on the little bulb in the rubber socket Toggles, I would bet these are "in operation" lights. I would love to know what all of those signs say.
Not as good, but still...
I also found a picture of the first laundromat we went to. It's on the left. They had American style toploaders there. Very unusual in the Netherlands. Unfortunately no machine can be seen in this picture. The year: 1967. Probably the toploaders were already gone by then as there is a display behind the window "...SSI" (Zanussi?).
I also found a picture of the first laundromat we went to. It's on the left. They had American style toploaders there. Very unusual in the Netherlands. Unfortunately no machine can be seen in this picture. The year: 1967. Probably the toploaders were already gone by then as there is a display behind the window "...SSI" (Zanussi?).
toggleswitch2
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Doesn't that woman's head near the store-front obscure a sign that may say "FREE DRYING" ?
Why would this be NEW YORK?
Why would this be NEW YORK?
toggleswitch2
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Or FREE DRYERS?
Is that woman on our right taking shapsots of the couple near the door?
Is that woman on our right taking shapsots of the couple near the door?
toggleswitch2
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The first poster nearest us with the (port-hole) states:
"Recommended weights for best washing results"
"Recommended weights for best washing results"
rayjay
Well-known member
This laundromat was just like one of the laundromats in my area growing up. The small Bendix machines were $.20cents.
The next machine size was a Philco Bendix and they wre $.25cents. The large Bendix was .30cents. This was in 1961. I remember my Dad and I took the laundry there and did 10 loads. I put in too much Fab detergent, and when the machine went into the first spin, the suds shot up like a geiser from all 10 machines. What a mess.
BTW: THe dryers were .10 for 10 min.
How times have changed. lol
The next machine size was a Philco Bendix and they wre $.25cents. The large Bendix was .30cents. This was in 1961. I remember my Dad and I took the laundry there and did 10 loads. I put in too much Fab detergent, and when the machine went into the first spin, the suds shot up like a geiser from all 10 machines. What a mess.
BTW: THe dryers were .10 for 10 min.
How times have changed. lol
autowasherfreak
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What is the machine (top loader) the lady with the black top is using?
70series
Well-known member
In Queens New York, my grandmother on my father's side used to go to a laundromat that had mostly Zanussis. It also had washers like the one in the forefront of the photo, where the the woman wearing glasses is washing clothes. What kind of washer is that, and is it fully automatic?
Thank you and have a good one,
James
Thank you and have a good one,
James
rayjay
Well-known member
What is the machine (top loader) the lady with the black top
The machine the lady with the black top is using is not a washing machine. It is a spinner. If a machine failed in the laundromat, you would either use it to spin out the excess water. Or...in those days, these front loaders did not spin very well, so for .10cents you could spin out the excess water from your loads, thus less time in the dryer.
The machine the lady with the black top is using is not a washing machine. It is a spinner. If a machine failed in the laundromat, you would either use it to spin out the excess water. Or...in those days, these front loaders did not spin very well, so for .10cents you could spin out the excess water from your loads, thus less time in the dryer.
launderess
Well-known member
The Lady Wearing A Black Lace Blouse
Wearing glasses is using an extractor, which where very common in laundromats and indeed commercial laundries as well.
Because early washing machines of all types (aside from perhaps Frigidaires) had such low final spin speeds, laundry would emerge quite wet. Heavy and sturdy items like towels, jeans, some linens,blankets, and such would be taken from the washing machine and put into the extractor to spin out more water, thus less time would be required for drying either in a tumble dryer or on the lines. Bock is a common name today for commercial extractors.
While also common for home use in the UK and Europe, extractors weren't really a huge sell for home use in the United States.
As for commercial use, even today some laundries still send heavy items from washing machines through an extractor because their washing machines have low final spin speeds. Or, they are still using old machines that are mainly "washers" and laundry is moved to "extractors" to be spun. If one looks at commercial laundry catalogs you'll see machines that wash and spin still described as "washers & extractors".
Due to liability issues extractors are mostly gone from laundromats. Last time one saw one was a laundromat in Brooklyn near Fort Greene.
L.
Wearing glasses is using an extractor, which where very common in laundromats and indeed commercial laundries as well.
Because early washing machines of all types (aside from perhaps Frigidaires) had such low final spin speeds, laundry would emerge quite wet. Heavy and sturdy items like towels, jeans, some linens,blankets, and such would be taken from the washing machine and put into the extractor to spin out more water, thus less time would be required for drying either in a tumble dryer or on the lines. Bock is a common name today for commercial extractors.
While also common for home use in the UK and Europe, extractors weren't really a huge sell for home use in the United States.
As for commercial use, even today some laundries still send heavy items from washing machines through an extractor because their washing machines have low final spin speeds. Or, they are still using old machines that are mainly "washers" and laundry is moved to "extractors" to be spun. If one looks at commercial laundry catalogs you'll see machines that wash and spin still described as "washers & extractors".
Due to liability issues extractors are mostly gone from laundromats. Last time one saw one was a laundromat in Brooklyn near Fort Greene.
L.
launderess
Well-known member
Free Dryers
There is a small sign in the window indicating the laundromat has "free dryers". Most likely like today's mats the dryers are grouped together elsewhere in the store, probably in the back.
Wonder how this business made any money, giving away detergent and free dryers. *LOL*
Have to give the owner credit for keeping such a spic and span business. Look how all the surfaces, including the washing machines gleam.
L.
There is a small sign in the window indicating the laundromat has "free dryers". Most likely like today's mats the dryers are grouped together elsewhere in the store, probably in the back.
Wonder how this business made any money, giving away detergent and free dryers. *LOL*
Have to give the owner credit for keeping such a spic and span business. Look how all the surfaces, including the washing machines gleam.
L.
toggleswitch2
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~There is a small sign in the window indicating the laundromat has "free dryers".
There were probably two schools of thought in the early days of dryers
Justification NOT to: (My great-aunt and great uncle):
Those dryer are ovens and BAKE the clothes to death, ruining them.
Justification for: (My grandmnother and grandfather):
Damp clothes [i.e. line-dried] bring illness and pneumonia. You'll get sick and DIE if you don't use a dryer. Line dried clothes are "not clean". Those NYC alleyways are full of dust and dirt from boilers, barbeques cars, etc.
It's all about one's persepctive. N'est ce pas?
There were probably two schools of thought in the early days of dryers
Justification NOT to: (My great-aunt and great uncle):
Those dryer are ovens and BAKE the clothes to death, ruining them.
Justification for: (My grandmnother and grandfather):
Damp clothes [i.e. line-dried] bring illness and pneumonia. You'll get sick and DIE if you don't use a dryer. Line dried clothes are "not clean". Those NYC alleyways are full of dust and dirt from boilers, barbeques cars, etc.
It's all about one's persepctive. N'est ce pas?
launderess
Well-known member
Well early tumble dryers were hot enough to be ovens in most cases. Better to deal with all that poorly extracted heavy cotton, which made up a bulk of laundry in those days. Remember the comic strip "Peanuts" where Lucy uses a long stick to fetch her brother's favourite blanket from the dryer? She chucks the thing to him and it is so hot the wee lad jumps into the air! *LOL*
Actually tumble drying with heat is more sanitary than say letting heavy wet laundry line dry indoors, or out doors on a less than bright sunny day. While sunshine with it's ultra violet light does disenfect to an extent, it is not the same has high heat drying.
Actually tumble drying with heat is more sanitary than say letting heavy wet laundry line dry indoors, or out doors on a less than bright sunny day. While sunshine with it's ultra violet light does disenfect to an extent, it is not the same has high heat drying.
Cool Bendix Launderette
Since we're pirating pictures, these are some I pulled off the web a long time ago.
This is a little later Bendix machine than the first one.
Since we're pirating pictures, these are some I pulled off the web a long time ago.
This is a little later Bendix machine than the first one.
More Bendix
When smoking was allowed in laundries.
Titled Community Laundry
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Testing
Just look at all that "stooping and bending" to use a front loader!
Just look at all that "stooping and bending" to use a front loader!
Great photos! Laundromats would be fun if they weren't open to the public, LOL!
Laundro Update: The local laundromat, which had two rows of circa '85 Speed Queen TLer's as their centerpiece, has chucked all the TLer's in favor of SQ FLer's. Noticed it today as I drove by. There isn't a TL'er in the place, anymore!
Laundro Update: The local laundromat, which had two rows of circa '85 Speed Queen TLer's as their centerpiece, has chucked all the TLer's in favor of SQ FLer's. Noticed it today as I drove by. There isn't a TL'er in the place, anymore!
Factory Coolness
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