Vintage laundry room ideas ...

[bradross]

Lance - like it? I love it!

Your laundry room looks very functional and retro! Love your three wringer washers - bet you can have the laundry done in a flash with those working in tandem!

I've never seen English square-tub wringer washers in person. Would love to, one day. With all my trips to England over the years, I've never made it to a junk-yard or store that might have old appliances. And of course, my friends there have front-loaders - and no offense to those who like them - they're just NOT my thing! I've got to be able to get my hands in the soapy water, as with a wringer, twin-tub, or a top-loading automatic.

Thanks for posting the pics! This is exactly what I wanted when I started this discussion thread.

 

[lancethecook]

Thanks Brad

If ever you make it to East Yorkshire then please come and see me , the kettle is always on.
And you can get your hands on a real English wringer washer!
Cheers
Lance

 

[launderess]

She may be a convicted felon

But you have to admire Martha Stewart's laundry room at her estate in Maine

 

[washdaddy]

That's an interesting shot of Martha's laundry room for that home. Would be great to have a panoramic shot to see what different machines she has. I see at least one MT top loader but can't see anything else because of the angle the shot was taken. Of course all of her fine white linens are all meticulously folded and set for the shot. Heaven forbid you would see a dirty napkin in the picture. LOL

 

[launderess]

Laundry Room At Skylands

Enjoy:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/marthas-laundry-room-136331

 

[washdaddy]

Thank you for posting the link to Martha's blog

After reading her blog one can see why one would need such a grand laundry. Oh and don't forget the flatwork finisher that she just had to have which is installed in a separate sewing room for finishing sheets and table cloth's.

Considering that Madame's estate has 15 guest rooms we can now understand why a staff of 30 would be needed to maintain her palatial residence and require a laundry that is so elaborate.

 

[launderess]

In The Archives Somewhere

Believe "Super" forum we had a long discussion/thread about MS and her laundry room at Skylands. Thread was started by "Moi" with a link to the same or similar blog as above.

Long story short Martha Stewart purchased the estate complete with much of the original furniture and furnishing. This included many of the older appliances you see in that laundry room and tons of vintage linens. The estate was built by and for one of the Ford boys. Not sure if it was the son or grandson. Anyway if one recalls they sold it on to another family who sold it to MS.

Just off the laundry room/servants pantry area is a vast storage for all those vintage (and one assumes by now modern) linens. There are tablecloths original to the estate rolled and stored on special built-in rollers.

The "antique" equipment includes those drying cabinets (built to order and installed at that time), the American Motex extractor, those wash sinks, the ironer (Simplex) near the window, those heavy cast iron base ironing boards, etc...

There was no way any of her servants were ironing sheets on those small ironers. Well you could but they would have to be folded or run through several times. Either way the results surely wouldn't have been up to MS's standards. So those poor servants probably hand ironed all large flatwork on that big table.

 

[ovrphil]

Ironing

the easy way...I would love to have one of those large flatwork ironers. But I need a car, small matter.

http://saginaw.craigslist.org/bfs/4652737057.html

 

[launderess]

You Need More Than A Car Or Truck

But one very large gas main for a start. IIRC the smaller versions of these ironers may run off a domestic type supply, but not the one pictured.

You'll also need adequate ventilation such as a very powerful exhaust fan. This both takes away the heat and steam but also fumes/by products of combustion.

In the early days of gas heated ironers they were operated without ventilation, and workers dropped like flies. Those things were fed either natural or "city" (from coal) gas and or in a pinch could run on gasoline or other flammable substances. Can you imagine the vapors?

 

[ovrphil]

Transportation requirements

is understood. The other details paints another picture.

This would be an alternative execution machine. " We invite our prisoners to be active, and get a little exercise, ironing. It's good to stay active..there are no other choices except solitary confinement."

Okeeee.

 

[jetcone]

Love that 1947 Hotpoint Laundry Room

now we know that washer would have been a Beam machine and the dryer a rebadged Hamilton.

Such cool cabinets on them !