Here at Historic Tech I sometimes find myself pondering the most important questions in life such as: ‘Is this the oldest automatic washer-dryer in the world?!’
Let me explain….
Recently I was looking through an original catalogue from the Great Exhibition of 1851 held at Crystal Palace near London. Deemed by many to be one of the greatest trade exhibitions of the 19th Century, the event was conceived by Prince Albert (husband to Queen Victoria) to be a tour-de-force display of cutting-edge science and technology. Unsurprisingly, the event drew thousands of exhibitors from around the world and was attended by nearly 6 million visitors. There was everything on show from beautiful art to everyday cutlery (and much more beside of course), but a sizable proportion was given over to up-and-coming technology, and it was this I was most interested to see.
While I won’t bore you with the eminently sensible stuff, tucked in the book (amid multiple line drawings of oversized agricultural and industrial mining machines) was one particularly fun object which caught my eye. Grandly titled ‘The Patent Hydro-Extractor’ it had been produced by Messrs. Manlove, Alliott & Co of Nottingham. For all intents and purposes this 170 year old oddity really was the precursor to all our modern automatic washer-dryers. Indeed as I know of nothing similar which is older (if you do let me know?) then it was most likely the first as well.
There were plenty of hand machines before for sure, but not automatic. Indeed the only real difference with your washing machine today is this antique one ran off steam not electricity. Since it (reputedly) dried the garments in as little as 5 minutes and spun at up to 2,000 revolutions per minute (the modern average machine spins at 1000-1400rpm but can be found up to 2000rpm), it would still have given your Hotpoint a run for its money!
Since I know we all love to read online reviews of household white goods, I’ve included a copy of the original 1851 accompanying text below!…………..
The Patent Hydro-Extractor
Under this title there is exhibited (Class 6, No. 454), by Messrs. Manlove, Alliot and Co., of the Lenton Works, near Nottingham, a centrifugal machine for washing and drying clothes, of which we present an engraving. The patentees of this valuable invention claim for it the property of completely overcoming the disadvantages arising from wringing or squeezing wet garments, and also of effecting the drying of any material much more speedily and effectually than has hitherto been deemed possible. The peculiar advantages possessed by this over all other machines in use by calico-printers, bleachers, dyers, silk throwsters, and other manufacturers, are thus adverted to :- The goods are not injured in the slightest degree; the only pressure or force to which they are subjected is that of the different folds of the fabric on each other, by virtue of their centrifugal tendency; and this, even in the finest and most delicate material, does not produce the slightest abrasion in the texture, or rupture of the threads; at the same time, all creases are entirely avoided, and in case of very fine yarns, of silk or cotton, the difficulty that arises from the adhesion of their fibres after wringing or other pressure, is completely prevented.
The Liquid or moisture is so completely and so uniformly abstracted by this process (however heavy the fabric), that only a very slight degree of heat and time is required to complete the drying; and, in most cases, the goods are sufficiently dry for the finishing process; and in consequence of less heat being required for drying, the injury so frequently occasioned to the colours, and also to the fabric, is thus avoided.
In the finishing process, when a certain and determinate quantity of moisture, starch, soap, or other article, is desired to be left in the goods, the quantity of such article can be fixed with an equality and exactness not otherwise attainable, the machine being so arranged that the speed, and therefore the effect, can be calculated at pleasure from 200 to 2,000 revolutions per minute.
In some drying processes, where expensive materials are employed, a considerable saving has been effected, as a larger quantity of such material can be extracted by this than by any other means; where fancy or fugitive colours are employed on wearing articles, a regularity of colour is obtained in the drying that could not previously be had. It is well known that in the domestic operation of drying the destruction of the clothes from wringing or squeezing after washing, (the method now generally adopted) is often greater than even from the natural wear of the same. This invention entirely puts an end to the mischief; the clothes being placed with all the water in them directly therein, and after five minutes working, taken out nearly dry, without having been subject to the least strain on their fibres; indeed, the finest materials, such as silks, gauzes, crapes or fine muslins, on being examined, do not show the least displacement in the texture.
The hydro-extractor, as made of various sizes, being calculated to hold from 100lbs to 300lbs of wet goods, and any lesser weight to a single pound, can be operated upon with equal advantage. They are most commonly worked by steam power; but hand machines are constantly for use in hospitals, asylums, union workhouses, domestic and other establishments, in which steam or waterpower is not usually to be had. They are made to hold about six pairs of sheets at once, or any quantity of smaller articles of similar bulk; and the time required for the operation is not, in any case, more than five minutes. We have not seen the machine in operation; but if any evidence were required as to its utility and advantages, it would be sufficient to say that Messrs. Hagle and Sons, the well-known calico printers of Manchester, use no fewer than eight of them in their establishment; and it is also patronised by Messrs. Hargreaves, Brothers, Richard Cobden and Co., besides numerous other large, but less universally-known firms. For domestic purposes the Hydro-extractor has been found extremely useful.
(from : The illustrated Exhibitor, 1851, p122-3)
Photo attribution: Washing machine by Chris Bloom