I was looking for something else and found these great images online... I figure you guys would like to see these vintage pictures of "our" machines...
The Rosso Radio Company store at 706 South 38th Street, owned by Stanley Rosso, carried a wide selection of large appliances, including washing machines, refrigerators, and upright vacuum cleaners. The "Easy" washer in the center of this photograph from January 1936 could be purchased for $54.50, or $1 per week on time. The cashiers window is at the back of the store. Stanley Rosso remained in business at this location until WWII.
Stanley L. Rosso opened the Rosso Radio Company store at 706 South 38th Street in 1931. In this photograph from January, 1936 there are two washing machines on display outside the store, an "A B C" washer to the left and a "Maytag" to the right. Stanley Rosso remained in business at this address until WWII. After the war, he opened a new store, the Rosso TV & Appliance Company, at 756 South 38th St. one block over from his old store. This store closed around 1958.
A young housewife wipes a dish in her new home in the Sylvan Park neighborhood in November, 1952. The kitchen appears compact in design with limited storage space. There is a front loading, Westinghouse washing machine in the corner. Sylvan Park was located, according to an ad in a November, 1952 Tacoma News Tribune, in the Lakes District, not far from South Tacoma. Rambler style homes with three bedrooms and a two car garages were abundant. The average price of homes in Sylvan Park was $12,500. (TNT 11-7-52, D-7)
L. Schoenfeld and Sons department store offered their customers one of the most modern home furnishings selection in Tacoma. The company was hosting an appliance demonstration for local Tacoma women. View of large group of women listening to a presentation on the latest washing machines and mangles.
Isadore Sclare was photographed in July of 1936 grasping the handle on a large, new cleaning drum at his drycleaning establishment, Pacific Cleaners, 610 Pacific Ave. in Bremerton. A pile of crumpled clothing and wire coat hangers are in the background. Mr. Sclare had been in the dry cleaning business in Bremerton since 1934 and was planning to build a new facility in the fall.
Several views showing conditions at County Jail, Tribune. A view of the Pierce County Jail showing the recreation area where those prisioners allowed out of their cells wash clothes, get hair cuts, read, and attend Sunday church services. A new jail for the county was being considered at this time. This facility had been in use for 55 years and parts of it were condemned
Paulson's Radios and Appliances was celebrating their grand opening in Tacoma. Their new building was an ultra modern facility, built where the Mueller Building from 1889 was previously located. Paulson's had an excellent selection of "Philco" and "General Electric" products. View of businessmen, Clifford Paulson (second from left) at Paulson's Radios and Appliances ribbon cutting ceremony
Rhodes Department Store had everything a customer could want or need for their home. Rhodes had recently finished a remodeling and modernization of their departments. View of unidentified woman looking at a refrigerator in the appliances department. A stove and an automatic washing machine are in foreground, Bendix home laundry advertisements in background.
Grand opening signs are peppered through the many departments at Gov-Mart South, a discount department store located on a strip of land between Hwy 99 and I-5 in Lakewood. October 14, 1964, saw crowds of enthusiastic shoppers inspecting and purchasing everything from clothing to clocks to major appliances. View of washers/dryers, stoves, radio/phonograph consoles and televisions; gas stove on sale for $189 and a dryer on special at $109. With the grand opening of October 14th, Gov-Mart changed its policies regarding membership-only status and also changed its name to Gov-Mart/Baza'r. Photograph ordered by Gov-Mart.
This house was designed and built by Wollander Far West Homes was likely a two or three bedroom house. Wollander homes were made with prefabricated materials and usually built in just a few days. Interior view of prefabricated house built by Wollander Farwest Homes. View of small kitchen, it is equipped with a sink, cabinets, and a "Kenmore" washing machine; this area was likely used as a breakfast area.
Sears, Roebuck held a summer appliance sale on the rooftop parking area of their parking center at 1140-50 Court C in August of 1954. During the summer clearance sale customers could save up to $72 on a Kenmore washer and $81 on a Kenmore dryer. Wringers, refrigerators and chest freezers were also on sale. Beyond the parking garage further up the South 13th Street hill can be seen: the Dewey Hotel, 1308 Market Street; the Coliseum Bowling Alley, 407 South 13th; and (top right, just beyond the bowling sign) the Crescent Ballroom, 1308-10 Fawcett Avenue. The brick building at top center is the Eagles Hall, 1305-07 Fawcett Ave.; it was demolished in April of 2007 several days after its roof collapsed.
Weisfield's window in July of 1953 featured a free Barwa leisure chair with a Westinghouse laundromat and dryer. The washing machine, and free lounge chair, are $299.95. The D-5 dryer and free chair are $219.95. Plus consumers could take advantage of Weisfield's low easy credit terms. Unlike in the past when consumers bought items cash only, credit was relied upon more often for major purchases.
Window display at Selden's of home appliances, including Siegler oil heaters and floor furnaces. Also displayed are Bendix Economats (clothes washing machines) and, in the left hand window, paint. Sydney C. Selden Sr. was the president of Selden's. The company sold, in addition to household appliances, linoleum, shades, carpets, rugs, venetian blinds, televisions, draperies and had an interior decorator service. They had been at this five story facility since 1942.
Sunset Electric Company presented a display of Frigidaire appliances at the 1952 Puyallup Fair featuring several sizes of refrigerator, an electric water heater, washer and dryer, a mandrel ironing machine, electric stoves, and an institutional sized milk cooler. A large sign over the washer and dryer announced, "Leisure Laundry."
Kitchen of Season-Master home. There were several Season-Master models in the Mountlake Terrace area in the early 1950's. Mountlake Terrace was a growing community not far from Seattle. View of kitchen in Season-Master home; kitchen appears compact with appliances placed in a U-shape format. This particular kitchen had its washer and dryer units located next to the refrigerator and across from the stove. All appliances are white and of the Westinghouse brand.
The Stadium Laundromat was located at 112 Tacoma Avenue North. Owned by Lawrence L. Fox and Lawrence E. Skinner, it was a self-service laundry facility. Coin operated washers and dryers were placed against the walls; table to fold and separate clothing placed conveniently nearby. In the middle of the room was a U-shaped counter with possibly a small cash register or adding machine on it which could have been used to exchange bills for change.
Brothers Stan and Fred Sepic (left to right), owners of Sepic Electric, pose with a new Hotpoint washer and dryer at Graybar Electric on May 16, 1951. The Sepics, who already owned a store at 1301 South "K" (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way), would open a second furniture and appliance center at 72nd and Pacific at the end of May, 1951.
