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Through the Wringer: Laundry in the Late 19th Century

Washing clothes is a common, everyday task, and modern washing machines and dryers have made this chore much quicker. With the aid of the Trade Literature Collection, let’s go back to the late 19th Century for a small glimpse into the types of machines they used for laundry back then.

This trade catalog is entitled Washing Machines, Wringers, Mangling Machines, Drying Closets Catalogue No. 119 (1878) by Thomas Bradford & Co. It is the January 1878 “Envelope Edition.”

front cover of 1878 Thomas Bradford & Co. trade catalog
Thomas Bradford & Co., London and Manchester, United Kingdom. Washing Machines, Wringers, Mangling Machines, Drying Closets Catalogue No. 119, 1878, front cover.

As the catalog title suggests, Thomas Bradford & Co. manufactured washing machines, wringers, mangling machines, laundry stoves, and drying closets. These were available for private families, hospitals, schools, and other public and private institutions.

One of these machines was the Patent “Vowel” Washing Machine which was considered to be an economizer of both water and soap and required little labor on the part of the operator. It was also described as not having any internal parts to damage clothing.

two "Vowel" washing machines
Thomas Bradford & Co., London and Manchester, United Kingdom. Washing Machines, Wringers, Mangling Machines, Drying Closets Catalogue No. 119, 1878, pages 4-5, Bradford’s Patent “Vowel” A and “Vowel” I Washing Machine, including “Vowel” I New Pattern.

Bradford’s Patent “Vowel” A Washing Machine was “simple, compact, portable, and efficient” so much so that, according to the catalog, a 12 year old child could wash 12 shirts in only 12 to 15 minutes or two blankets in six minutes. To save soap, a wringer was recommended because the suds could be “wrung back into the washing compartment,” and it involved less labor than wringing clothes by hand.

Combined Washing, Wringing, and Mangling Machines are shown below. Another page below shows drying closets. A stove inside the drying closet heated the irons and also aided in drying clothes.

two combined washing, wringing, and mangling machines
Thomas Bradford & Co., London and Manchester, United Kingdom. Washing Machines, Wringers, Mangling Machines, Drying Closets Catalogue No. 119, 1878, pages 6-7, Bradford’s Patent Combined Washing, Wringing, and Mangling Machines.
two drying closets
Thomas Bradford & Co., London and Manchester, United Kingdom. Washing Machines, Wringers, Mangling Machines, Drying Closets Catalogue No. 119, 1878, pages 20-21, Bradford’s Patent “Radial” Drying Closet and Bradford’s Patent “Draw-Out” Drying Closet.

The testimonials in this catalog seem to be written by users and customers who were satisfied with the amount of time, labor, and money they saved using these machines. One gentlemen wrote, “My wife and servants are delighted with the Washing Machine; it is a wonderful economiser of time. It used to take three days before the washing was out of hand; now they are able to have it all finished on the evening of the same day. I shall recommend it wherever I can.”

testimonials from customers of Bradford's Patent "Vowel" Washing Machines
Thomas Bradford & Co., London and Manchester, United Kingdom. Washing Machines, Wringers, Mangling Machines, Drying Closets Catalogue No. 119, 1878, pages 2-3, testimonials from users of Bradford’s Patent “Vowel” Washing Machines.

An image on the back cover of this trade catalog gives us an idea of how the different machines might have been set up to wash and dry clothes. This illustration is a Plan of a Washhouse that private families, schools, or hotels could have used. Imagine the amount of time and labor it would have taken to run everything!

two people working in a washhouse
Thomas Bradford & Co., London and Manchester, United Kingdom. Washing Machines, Wringers, Mangling Machines, Drying Closets Catalogue No. 119, 1878, back cover, Bradford’s Plan of Washhouse for Private Families, Schools, or Hotels.

Washing Machines, Wringers, Mangling Machines, Drying Closets Catalogue No. 119 (1878) by Thomas Bradford & Co. is located in the Trade Literature Collection at the National Museum of American History Library.

4 Comments

  1. William Haddad

    In 1981 we moved into Riverside, IL house built in 1890s. In the attic we found this “machine” which no one can identify–it’s been 40 years. My 15 year old nephew is into antiquities, and put this out to his media friends and came up with an 1865 patented washing machine diagram.

    Bill Haddad

    • Nestor

      A few days ago I have seen this washing machine in a garage in Rio Grande City, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina.
      I really enjoyed watching it and I thought about what It could be at that time.
      Wonderful invention!

      Nestor

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