Today’s picture of the day, July 17

[combo52]

This is probably one of the first ads ever for an automatic, washing machine, it’s interesting that they advertise it as the successor to the washing machine because the washing machine in this time Was a manual wringer type machine in most cases. You can see the immediate appeal to not having to get your hands, wet and get the whole job done, with very little attention,

Bendix was the worlds first marketer of automatic washing machines. They sold more than 15 million of these machines and you can see why they were such a hit.

It’s really a shame that Bendix didn’t keep up with the times they could’ve been the predominant maker of washing machines to this day, but they didn’t update the product and improve it sufficiently and let other manufactures push them out of the way.

John

 

[carolina128]

Bluing

Also fascinating are the repeated references to bluing, right along with soap. I literally had to look it up since I’ve never used it or heard it talked about. I guess within a few decades laundry detergent had advanced enough that adding bluing every load wasn’t necessary?

 

[DADoES]

 
Bluing is added only to loads of whites.  It imparts an ever-so-slight blue which counters yellowing.

 

[circlew]

I suppose the successor to Bendix appliances is Dexter, though they only make commercial machines now. First AVCO decided to exit the appliance business when they ended the Crosley brand and sold the Bendix name to Philco (Ford) in 1956, which already owned Dexter. Then Ford decided to end their appliance business, and spun Dexter off.