One could purchase washing machines both domestic and commercial with drums/cylinders made from wood well into the 1920's. When have time will post some links. The "Thor" cylinder washer came in both wood and metal drums, but by late 1920's early 1930s IIRC only metal was offered.
Wood has many benefits over some metals. Remember stainless steel wasn't invented until 1913, and until rather recently historically was very expensive. Porcelain enamel on steel also is costly and that process wasn't perfected until (IIRC) post WWII.
That leaves the two most common metals for wash tubs; galvanized steel, or copper. Both have draw backs that range from rust (even galvanized metals will sooner or later), to reaction with various chemicals, soaps and whatever used for laundry.
The first commercial "washer-extractor" was invented in 1954. Prior to that *all* commercial/industrial laundries washed, rinsed, and maybe starched in one machine (washer), then transferred the wash to extractor.
Here again is a clip from 1940's showing how the "Easton Laundry" did things. This was common for all laundries world over again until washer/extractors came on the scene. In fact many laundries stuck with this system long after and some still do for reasons of their own.
Wash only versus wash/extractor.
There was then and still is a huge debate among professional laundrymen (or women) about extracting between wash and first rinse, then each subsequent rinse until final spin.
OTOH there are those who feel spinning laundry pulls "dirty water" through clean laundry as it passes via extraction.
Those on other side of fence point to decreased water usage that interim extract cycles offer, and that washing is cleaner due to lack of carry over between cycles.
Interestingly the huge tunnel/batch washers that are coming to dominate commercial/industrial laundries do *NOT* extract between wash or any of rinse cycles. Water is only extracted at end of cycle before goods are transferred to dryers or ironers.
Many early European front loaders well into the 1990's did not spin after main wash, nor in fact until maybe after two or three rinses (out of total of five or maybe even six). My Miele W1070 only does a short spin after three rinses, with a full spin before final rinse. As you can imagine at about 10 gallons per fill that uses quite a lot of water.
European consumer testing magazines often found rinsing ability of these machines wanting.
Wood has many benefits over some metals. Remember stainless steel wasn't invented until 1913, and until rather recently historically was very expensive. Porcelain enamel on steel also is costly and that process wasn't perfected until (IIRC) post WWII.
That leaves the two most common metals for wash tubs; galvanized steel, or copper. Both have draw backs that range from rust (even galvanized metals will sooner or later), to reaction with various chemicals, soaps and whatever used for laundry.
The first commercial "washer-extractor" was invented in 1954. Prior to that *all* commercial/industrial laundries washed, rinsed, and maybe starched in one machine (washer), then transferred the wash to extractor.
Here again is a clip from 1940's showing how the "Easton Laundry" did things. This was common for all laundries world over again until washer/extractors came on the scene. In fact many laundries stuck with this system long after and some still do for reasons of their own.
Wash only versus wash/extractor.
There was then and still is a huge debate among professional laundrymen (or women) about extracting between wash and first rinse, then each subsequent rinse until final spin.
OTOH there are those who feel spinning laundry pulls "dirty water" through clean laundry as it passes via extraction.
Those on other side of fence point to decreased water usage that interim extract cycles offer, and that washing is cleaner due to lack of carry over between cycles.
Interestingly the huge tunnel/batch washers that are coming to dominate commercial/industrial laundries do *NOT* extract between wash or any of rinse cycles. Water is only extracted at end of cycle before goods are transferred to dryers or ironers.
Many early European front loaders well into the 1990's did not spin after main wash, nor in fact until maybe after two or three rinses (out of total of five or maybe even six). My Miele W1070 only does a short spin after three rinses, with a full spin before final rinse. As you can imagine at about 10 gallons per fill that uses quite a lot of water.
European consumer testing magazines often found rinsing ability of these machines wanting.
