Wringer washer featured in historic newsreel ...

[bradross]

Not sure in what year this was filmed, but appears to be late 1940s. I'm assuming it was a newsreel showing how the advancement in home appliances was helping housewives in America.

Here's a still shot ...

http://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/vi...ic-washing-machine-and-news-footage/143339419

 

[bradross]

More details at the bottom of the screen ...

Getty Images has provided the following...Housewife: Hazel Parkinson. January 1, 1940, Warnock, Ohio.

 

[launderess]

Going by the comments of voice over, and caption beneath pictures would say it is more about the arrival of electricity to that part of rural Ohio. Note comments about use of an "electric" iron; it being one of the "first things" a woman asks for once a home is wired or some such.

That latter part is true, electric irons were a vast improvement over sad irons heated on stoves/ranges. During warmer times of year it must have been horrible to stand in a kitchen or elsewhere with a hot coal or gas range/stove fired up to heat irons. Then having to lift hot solid pieces of iron that weighted between 2 to 5 pounds (or a bit more).

As for the video first off why didn't anyone warn that woman about the dangers of plugging in an electric appliance with wet hands? She goes from pushing thing washing under suds to plugging in the cord which starts the washer.

Other than that the film shows what we have been discussing in another thread; the arrival of electric wringer or other washing machines replaced the several day long orgy of back breaking work required for hand washing.

 

[yogitunes]

Thanks Brad....

this is a great referral as to what housewives had to contend with in doing laundry....

as in that other thread, trying to comprehend that time frame of just using a wringer, and the drudgery of it, plus hanging clothes out, not to mention the fabric of the time required ironing....very time consuming

whats hard to comprehend for us, as we will try out vintage machines like this, is we know we can go to an automatic in the snap of a finger, but put yourself into that scenario, where you had no choice, and something like using a wringer was years ahead of hand washing with a scrub board.....for some with that ick factor of reusing wash water, that thought would never enter your mind...

as in this video, this time frame at least, she had the luxury of a laundry sink and indoor plumbing, not to mention available hot water...

its just stuff we take for granted....

 

[launderess]

Am trying to figure this out...

There is an entire series of GettyImages films for: January 01, 1940 in Warnock, Ohio.

Many seem have to with electricity on the farm.

http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detai...a-pole-for-electricity-news-footage/143350515

http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detai...a-pole-for-electricity-news-footage/143350515

The rest are various aspects of farm life as it was back then.

Turns out the clips are from a film done by the Rural Electrification Administration done to show life before and after electrification.

http://strattonhouse.com/index.php?section=history&content=rural_electrification


Interesting bit to see and ponder; thanks Brad.

For a city person like oneself can barely imagine life on a farm, much less one without electricity and late as the 1940's. I mean you hear and read about such things but it must have been a totally other world.

 

[yogitunes]

my parents grew up on farms in South Western Pennsylvania....and such as that, Mom has mentioned of life without electricity, pot belly stove to fire up each day, Maytag wringer that was gas powered, out houses.....they lived like that until around 1956 when they moved to New Jersey...and that was with 4 kids....us last 3 were born here..

culture shock for sure with grocery stores within walking distance, indoor plumbing and bathrooms, electricity, instant cooking by turning a knob....heck even a TV....

this was a massive change compared to what they were used to...

we go back to visit family back there.....and although some stuff is modernized, traditional stuff still goes on.....wringer washing is a big thing as well as hanging clothes on the line....growing huge gardens, and canning foods is common place....they are still located in the back hills, stores and trips into town is a far ride.....many snow storms would leave you trapped for days in your house....

almost reminds you of Green Acres!

 

[abcomatic]

Thanks Brad for posting this. The washer in the video clip is an ABC. You can tell by the wringer release and set and the agitator. Gary