Editing Washing machine (section)

===Early machines===
{{multiple images
 | total_width       = 400
 | image1            = Illustration of Jacob Christian Schäffer's washing machine, 1766.jpg
 | image2            = Pyykki-Maija crank-operated washing machine, 1940s.jpg
 | footer            = A 1766 illustration of Schäffer's washing machine (left) and a simple, crank-operated washing machine (right)
}}
{{Globalize|date=September 2016|2=United States}}
[[File:Wringer washer.webm|thumb|200px|right|Wringer washer, Paspébiac, Québec, Canada]]
[[File:Fulling mill bockler.jpg|thumb|upright|A fulling mill from [[Georg Andreas Böckler]]'s ''Theatrum Machinarum Novum'', 1661]]
An early example of washing by machine is the practice of [[fulling]]. In a fulling mill, the cloth was beaten with wooden hammers, known as fulling stocks or fulling hammers.

The first English [[patent]] under the category of washing machines was issued in 1691.<ref>'' Mothers and Daughters of Invention: Notes for a Revised History of Technology'', [[Autumn Stanley]], [[Rutgers University]] Press, 1995, p. 301.</ref> A drawing of an early washing machine appeared in the January 1752 issue of ''[[The Gentleman's Magazine]]'', a British publication.{{cn|date=October 2024}} [[Jacob Christian Schäffer]]'s washing machine design was published in 1767{{cn|date=October 2024}} in Germany.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deutsches-museum.de/bibliothek/unsere-schaetze/technikgeschichte/schaeffer-waschmaschine/ |title=Deutsches Museum: Schäffer |publisher=Deutsches-museum.de |access-date=2011-12-12}}</ref> In 1782, Henry Sidgier was issued a British patent for a rotating drum washer, and in the 1790s, Edward Beetham sold numerous "patent washing mills" in England.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oldandinteresting.com/history-washing-machines.aspx |title=History of Washing Machines up to 1800 |publisher=Oldandinteresting.com |date=2011-04-14 |access-date=2012-06-01}}</ref>

One of the first innovations in washing machine technology was the use of enclosed containers or basins that had grooves, fingers, or paddles to help with the scrubbing and rubbing of the clothes. The person using the washer would use a stick to press and rotate the clothes along the textured sides of the basin or container, agitating the clothes to remove dirt and mud.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Washing Machine – MSN Encarta |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761590288/Washing_Machine.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821231224/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761590288/Washing_Machine.html |archive-date=2009-08-21 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This crude agitator technology was hand-powered, but still more effective than actually hand-washing the clothes.

More advancements were made to washing machine technology in the form of the rotating drum design. These early design patents consisted of a drum washer that was hand-cranked to make the wooden drums rotate. While the technology was simple enough, it was a milestone in the history of washing machines, as it introduced the idea of "powered" washing drums. As metal drums started to replace the traditional wooden drums, it allowed for the drum to turn above an open fire or an enclosed fire chamber, raising the water temperature for more effective washes.

It was in the nineteenth century that steam power was first used in washing machine designs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2896500105.html |title=Washing Machine Facts, information, pictures &#124; Encyclopedia.com articles about Washing Machine |publisher=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=2012-06-01}}</ref>

In 1862, a patented "compound rotary washing machine, with rollers for wringing or mangling" by Richard Lansdale of Pendleton, Manchester, was shown at the [[1862 International Exhibition|1862 London Exhibition]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1862_London_Exhibition:_Catalogue:_Class_VIII.:_Richard_Lansdale |title=1862 London Exhibition: Catalogue: Class VIII.: Richard Lansdale |publisher=GracesGuide.co.uk |access-date=2010-06-19}}</ref>

The first United States Patent, titled "Clothes Washing", was granted to Nathaniel Briggs of [[New Hampshire]] in 1797. Because of the [[Patent Office 1836 fire|Patent Office fire]] in 1836, no description of the device survives. The invention of the washing machine is also attributed to [[Watervliet Shaker Historic District|Watervliet Shaker Village]], as a patent was issued to an Amos Larcom of [[Watervliet, New York|Watervliet]], New York, in 1829, but it is not certain that Larcom was a [[Shakers|Shaker]].<ref name=":-1">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yh18lhH-ytwC|title=Work and Worship Among the Shakers: Their Craftsmanship and Economic Order|last1=Andrews|first1=Edward Deming|last2=Andrews|first2=Faith|date=1974-01-01|publisher=Courier Corporation|isbn=9780486243825|page=157|language=en}}</ref> A device that combined a washing machine with a wringer mechanism appeared in 1843 when Canadian [[John E. Turnbull]] of [[Saint John, New Brunswick|Saint John]], New Brunswick patented a "Clothes Washer With Wringer Rolls".<ref>Mario Theriault, ''Great Maritime Inventions 1833–1950'', Goose Lane, 2001, p. 28.</ref>  During the 1850s, Nicholas Bennett of the [[Mount Lebanon Shaker Society]] at [[New Lebanon, New York|New Lebanon]], New York, invented a "wash mill", but in 1858 he assigned the patent to David Parker of the [[Canterbury Shaker Village]], where it was registered as the "Improved Washing Machine".<ref name="Tilley"/><ref name="ShakerLeb">{{cite web |last=Shaker Museum |date=2016-07-20 |title=The Shaker Improved Washing Machine |url=https://shakerml.wordpress.com/2016/07/20/the-shaker-improved-washing-machine/ |access-date=2016-10-10 |website=Shaker Museum {{!}} Mount Lebanon}}</ref><ref>{{US patent|19181}}.</ref>

[[File:Electric Rotor Washer.JPG|thumb|left|upright|A 1923 electric [[Miele]] washing machine with a built-in [[Mangle (machine)|mangle]] for drying]]

[[Margaret P. Colvin|Margaret Colvin]] improved the Triumph Rotary Washer,<ref>{{US patent|120717}}.</ref> which was exhibited in the Women's Pavilion at the [[Centennial International Exhibition]] of 1876 in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KmOWoTzjegUC&q=%22margaret+colvin%27s+triumph+rotary%22&pg=PA146 |title=Women, Aging, and Ageism – Evelyn R Rosenthal – Google Books |access-date=2012-10-14|isbn=9780866569842 |last1=Rosenthal |first1=Evelyn R. |year=1990 |publisher=Haworth Press }}</ref>  At the same exhibition, the Shakers won a gold medal for their machine.<ref name=":-1"/>

Electric washing machines were advertised and discussed in newspapers as early as 1904.<ref>"Electric Washing Machine the Latest. Housewives can do Washing in one-third the Time", ''Des Moines Daily Capitol'', November 12, 1904, p. 13.</ref>  Alva J. Fisher has been incorrectly credited with the invention of the electric washer.  The [[United States Patent and Trademark Office|US Patent Office]] shows at least one patent issued before Fisher's US patent number 966677<ref>{{US patent|966677}}.</ref> (e.g. Woodrow's US patent number 921195).<ref>{{US patent|921195}}.</ref>  The first inventor of the electric washing machine remains unknown.{{Cn|date=September 2024}}

US electric washing machine sales reached 913,000 units in 1928. However, high unemployment rates in the [[Great Depression|Depression]] years reduced sales; by 1932 the number of units shipped was down to about 600,000.

An early [[laundromat]] in the United States opened in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], Texas, in 1934.<ref>David John Cole, Eve Browning, Fred E. H. Schroeder, Encyclopedia of Modern Everyday Inventions, Greenwood 2003.</ref>{{dubious|date=April 2012}}<!-- This claim is highly unlikely. --> It was run by Andrew Klein. Patrons used coin-in-the-slot facilities to rent washing machines. The term "laundromat" can be found in newspapers as early as 1884 and they were widespread during the Depression. England established public washrooms for laundry along with bathhouses throughout the nineteenth century.<ref>New York Times, April 13, 1884; New London Journal, July 22, 1917.</ref>

Washer design improved during the 1930s. The mechanism was now enclosed within a cabinet, and more attention was paid to electrical and mechanical safety. [[Spin dryer]]s were introduced to replace the dangerous power mangle/wringers of the day.

By 1940, 60% of the 25,000,000 wired homes in the United States had an electric washing machine. Many of these machines featured a power wringer, although built-in spin dryers were not uncommon.{{citation needed|date=April 2012}}