Design and Prototyping

Finding accurate information about who invented the first washing machine was a bit of a challenge. It seems that several patents were issued, but some were destroyed in a fire, and others were never actually built. (Long, H. 2015) Early machines were hand operated, having friction plates inside the machine to rub the clothes together. The idea of using a rotating drum to clean dirty laundry, something that we still have in machines today, was first patented in America by James King, who held the patent for the first washing machine to use a drum in 1851. The machine looked somewhat like what we have today, but it was still reliant on the muscle of the women doing the laundry to work.

Early washing machines were large and bulky, not something that a person could easily have in their homes. The first washing machine designed for in home use was built in 1874 by William Blackstone, as a birthday present for his wife. (The Evolution, 2013)

The first electric-powered washing machine was invented by Alva J. Fisher, in 1908. Called The Thor, the machine had a metal drum and an electric motor which spun the tub. The patent was issued in 1910. (Bellis, 2015) The motor, which sat underneath, was not protected and exposure to dripping water often caused electric shocks and short circuiting of the machine. (Ament, 1997-2007)

Early washing machines did not have an internal system of wringing out the excess water from the clothes like those of today. As you can see on The Thor, there were two rollers that you inserted the material into and turned the handle, pulling the material through and squeezing out the excess water. Many injuries occurred from fingers and hair being caught in those rollers. ( Ament, 1997-2007)

The Thor and other early machines used a tumbler system, where the drum rotated to clean the material. The concept of an agitator- a moving internal piece that stirs the clothes, while the drum stays still, came about in 1927. (Timeline, 2015)

Improvements in design and efficiency happened over the next several years, from different types of agitators, motors inside the machine, different settings for different types of clothes, improved rinsing and draining methods, and the introduction of computers which sense how dirty the laundry is and how long of a cycle it needs to complete the cleaning. (History, 2007-2013) Today’s models allow for maximum cleaning efficiency and minimum time and effort.

Manufacturing & Production

The Thor was the first washing machine to be mass produced. (Bellis, M. 2015) Nowadays we have several companies including Samsung, GE, Whirlpool, Kenmore, Maytag, Bosch, Frigidaire, LG, Amana, and Fisher and Paykel, to name a few. They are manufactured in several countries, including Australia, Germany, The United States, South Korea, France, and China. (List, 2007-2013)

Finding working condition information for individual factories was difficult. While it seems that things have improved from early times in certain countries, specific information was not available. The materials used are metals, plastics, rubber, and computer components. There are quality control checks for every piece of material that goes into a washing machine, from the top down. Machines are tested for noise, vibration, and defects, as well as mechanism functions. Transportation conditions are mimicked to check for possibilities of damage from how the machines are boxed. (How, 2015)

Marketing

The marketing of washing machines, historically, has been towards women. Although women in this day and age are working outside of the home almost more than staying home, the household chores are still predominantly performed by women.

This Ad from 1948 shows how much easier life will be for a housekeeper if she uses the Easy Spindrier machine:

Another ad targets men as the purchaser, since in the early days men were the predominant ones making the household purchasing decisions..

Looking through modern ads, I found a few that had men in the photos, but still mostly women are portrayed with the machines. The most common and famous man with a washing machine is the “Lonely Maytag Repair Man”, who probably everyone has seen through the years.

 Sales

You can purchase a variety of machines from your local big box stores, including Lowe’s, Home Depot, Costco, JC Penney, Sears, Best Buy, and Standard Appliance. You can also purchase them directly from the manufacturers, outlet stores, small appliance stores, and from stores that specialize in used appliances.

User Support

Thankfully, today it is much easier to fix most machines yourself, or hire a local repair shop to take care of your needs. There are also troubleshooting guides and toll free numbers to call for support. Online forums also provide information on how to fix specific problems, and there are videos that show the steps in fixing them.

Maintenance

Machines, like my front loaders, do not require much maintenance, but they still need some. Keeping the doors open when the machines are not in use helps dry out the rubber rings and prevents mold buildup. Filters need to be checked occasionally for debris, and wiping down and keeping the machine clean is good for appearance and overall condition of the machine. The only time an expert is really needed is when a person is incapable of taking care of minor repairs or something catastrophic happens, like the computer board goes down. The design of the machines has advanced to where most people should be able to do most repairs themselves, including ordering parts online for replacement.

Recycling & Disposal

I could not find any information regarding whether a specific country takes washing machines to be recycled. Our local landfill does not allow them to be placed in a landfill, however, there is a section that is specific for appliances. From what I’ve experienced with the several sets I have owned in the last 20+ years, most machines are taken apart and repaired for resell, or donation purposes. Scrap metal is always a popular item around here, and you can get rid of a non- working machine fairly easily. The plastic, from what I can find, can be recycled.

How it works

This graphic shows how a washing machine works.

 

 

This video, from espares, explains how a front loading washing machine works.