Researching Kaiser dishwashers

[lcushing]

Hello group - I'm the historian for Kaiser Permanente (the sole remaining of Henry J. Kaiser's many industries), and am writing about the short-lived Kaiser dishwasher (which started as the "Q.E.D." then the "Steril-Dry" before Kaiser bought the rights). In addition to material in our own archive, I've researched at the UC Berkeley Bancroft Library and I've seen some good stuff from Mike Haller on this list. I would like to share what I've come up with any of you who are subject experts. The link attached is my weekly blog, with stuff ranging from hospitals to airplanes to aircraft carriers.

Please contact me if you can help. Thanks!

Our History

Kaiser Permanente’s groundbreaking integrated care model has evolved through the decades — and we’re still improving care delivery for our members to this day.

kaiserpermanentehistory.org

 

[tomturbomatic]

Interesting

Thank you for contacting the site. Do you have a paid membership so that you can use the Searchalator feature? There have been several discussions about the machine and CHAT, the non-caustic detergent developed to protect the aluminum, which can be found using that feature. The machines could not compare with the regular electric machines as they improved, but were definitely part of the history of the development of machine dishwashing.

 

[supersuds]

Kaiser Aluminum is still going, as well as Kaiser Permanente.

http://www.kaiseraluminum.com/about-us/history/

 

[lcushing]

Kaiser dishwasher article posted

Henry J. Kaiser built housing after WWII - and houses needed appliances. Enter the Kaiser Dishwasher. Comments to the post are welcome! Thanks for your help.

http://k-p.li/2lzzfmv

 

[runematic]

Here is my Kaiser. I've never tried to hook it up. It still has the paperwork with it.

 

[circlew]

Back in the mid 80's I worked at University Hospital in Cincinnati. Our office was on the 2nd. floor of an old building (built circa 1915) that had originally been patient care wards, but had been renovated. Occasionally I would have to go up to what we called the "attic", which was the 3rd. floor, which was used for storage of old files and equipment. This part of the building was mostly original, but some areas had been renovated sometime in the late 40's. In one room I remember seeing something that looked just like what is pictured, installed in a countertop. I didn't open it or otherwise investigate it, but assumed it was some type of medical device, such as an autoclave or bed pan washer.