Sunbeam portable dryer
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fan-of-fans
Well-known member
Me neither, I thought it was a radio at first. It's hard to believe that's from 1966, the fan on the front looks more like a modern one from a computer. Plus the cord looks newer, especially considering houses had only started having three prong outlets in the late 50s/early 60s. But I guess with wet clothes being inside, they took the precaution.
hippiedoll
Well-known member
I believe...
These are for like drying a pair of socks or panties/underwear?
Exactly like a dryer version of an easy bake oven.
LOL...
But, I don't know how hot these get?
These are for like drying a pair of socks or panties/underwear?
Exactly like a dryer version of an easy bake oven.
LOL...
But, I don't know how hot these get?
We've been down this path before.
Those little Sunbeam dryers (and or similar from other brands) were indeed for drying Madame's or Mademoiselle's dainty things. Slips, nylons, drawers, etc...
This maybe before some member's time, but not that long ago (and maybe still for some) all "nice" girls hand washed their lingerie, nylons and other undergarments nightly (or soon as they could get round) before going to bed.
If one grew up with females (or married to one, *LOL*) there was the nightly ritual of having to use a loo filled with dripping underthings that had been hung to dry. Hence that famous scene in film "Goodbye Girl" where Richard Dreyfuss rants "And I don't like the panties drying on the rod"....
Part of this was of course was lack of a washing machine, and or one that could do small loads without wasting gallons of water. This and or a machine that was gentle enough not to damage fine undergarments. Nylons in particular were expensive (and hard to get during WWII), so you took good care.
Other part comes down to simple hygiene. Perspiration is acidic. If left on garments not only is the whiff hard to remove, but it can damage and or discolor fabrics. Girls and women were advised to launder their girdles, bras, etc... soon after wearing in order to minimize these issues.
Finally the other reason was simple practicality. People didn't have the vast wardrobes of today (well maybe the wealthy), and that applied to undergarments. So you washed what was worn to have it ready for another day.
As electricity became more common all sorts of appliances popped up to deal with various issues, and these small dryers were one of them.
These dryers were often given to young girls or women as presents for various occasions. Their use must have delighted the males in any household that bathrooms were free from drying underwear.
http://www.retrothing.com/2009/07/wagner-portable-personal-clothes-dryer.html
Then you had contraptions like the Tide Dryer from Ronco.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RONCO-TIDI...m=263823282000&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
Basically a bonnet hair dryer that also did smalls.
Those little Sunbeam dryers (and or similar from other brands) were indeed for drying Madame's or Mademoiselle's dainty things. Slips, nylons, drawers, etc...
This maybe before some member's time, but not that long ago (and maybe still for some) all "nice" girls hand washed their lingerie, nylons and other undergarments nightly (or soon as they could get round) before going to bed.
If one grew up with females (or married to one, *LOL*) there was the nightly ritual of having to use a loo filled with dripping underthings that had been hung to dry. Hence that famous scene in film "Goodbye Girl" where Richard Dreyfuss rants "And I don't like the panties drying on the rod"....
Part of this was of course was lack of a washing machine, and or one that could do small loads without wasting gallons of water. This and or a machine that was gentle enough not to damage fine undergarments. Nylons in particular were expensive (and hard to get during WWII), so you took good care.
Other part comes down to simple hygiene. Perspiration is acidic. If left on garments not only is the whiff hard to remove, but it can damage and or discolor fabrics. Girls and women were advised to launder their girdles, bras, etc... soon after wearing in order to minimize these issues.
Finally the other reason was simple practicality. People didn't have the vast wardrobes of today (well maybe the wealthy), and that applied to undergarments. So you washed what was worn to have it ready for another day.
As electricity became more common all sorts of appliances popped up to deal with various issues, and these small dryers were one of them.
These dryers were often given to young girls or women as presents for various occasions. Their use must have delighted the males in any household that bathrooms were free from drying underwear.
http://www.retrothing.com/2009/07/wagner-portable-personal-clothes-dryer.html
Then you had contraptions like the Tide Dryer from Ronco.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/RONCO-TIDI...m=263823282000&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851
Basically a bonnet hair dryer that also did smalls.
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Thanks Laundress for your patience in explaining these old topics, which must recur quite often in a group as old as this one.
I'm old enough to remember the "hanging delicates" scenes from movies and television, but it never quite made sense unless placed in the context that clothing used to be a lot more expensive.
I'm well aware of the problem of sweat-stained clothing sitting too long between washings, ruining it prematurely with odors that will never come out. If t-shirts were $50 instead of $6 I might be running that little dryer myself every night!
I'm old enough to remember the "hanging delicates" scenes from movies and television, but it never quite made sense unless placed in the context that clothing used to be a lot more expensive.
I'm well aware of the problem of sweat-stained clothing sitting too long between washings, ruining it prematurely with odors that will never come out. If t-shirts were $50 instead of $6 I might be running that little dryer myself every night!
By the 1960's
Move from all cotton (or silk)undergarments to the new mad made fibers (polyester, nylon, etc...) also contributed to all that feminine washing hanging in bathrooms or elsewhere.
"Drip dry" included things like blouses, slips, and so forth.
Move from all cotton (or silk)undergarments to the new mad made fibers (polyester, nylon, etc...) also contributed to all that feminine washing hanging in bathrooms or elsewhere.
"Drip dry" included things like blouses, slips, and so forth.
pumper
Well-known member
I picked up one of those in a thrift store some years ago for about $10.
I see them occasionally at flea markets etc under the Wagner name.
