Washing Machines

WASHING MACHINES. Although household washing machines—mechanical devices for washing clothes—have been used for many years, it was not until the World War that these devices came into general popularity. Mechanical clothes washers trace their origin to the first crude tub with corrugated sides and bottom that revolved on an axis and was propelled by hand and to the stick with a tin pan or cup attached to one end that was plunged up and down in a tub full of clothes. Such mechanical means of washing date back over half a century. Modern me chanical clothes washers are of six general types—agitator or gyrator, cylinder, vacuum cup, oscillator, dolly and flowing or circulating water-type.

The agitator or gyrator washer employs a rotating and re versing disc, usually made of aluminium with one or more fins mounted on its upper side. This disc is placed in the bottom of the tub, operates from a driving mechanism placed under neath and forces the hot soapy water through the fabric. The agitator washer is generally acknowledged to be the fastest type available and the most popular.

The cylinder washer uses a metal or wooden cylinder that ro tates in one direction, or rotates in one direction a predetermined number of revolutions varying from one to six, and then reverses. The moving cylinder, which is either perforated or constructed of slats, is contained in an outer shell or tub of metal or wood.

The vacuum-cup washing machine utilizes one or more circular or square cups—usually two or three—made of copper or alumin ium, which are forced up and down in the water with a radial movement. In this type of machine, washing is accomplished by air pressure and suction.

In the oscillator type either a perforated container holding the clothes is rocked back and forth in the tub, or the tub itself is rocked. The oscillator and cylinder types of washing machine are the most gentle in their action.

The dolly clothes washer, one of the oldest types, has a rotat ing and reversing disc equipped on the bottom with fins or pegs. This disc is operated through the top of the tub. The dolly disc catches and holds the clothes while they are being forced through the water.

In the flowing or circulating water type washing machine, water is usually introduced into the tub under pressure, and the clothes are stirred around by the movement of the water.

Wood is still employed for the tubs in washing machines, although it has largely given way to copper, tinned copper, cop per that is nickel-plated, galvanized iron, galvanized steel, alumin ium, zinc and vitreous enamel. The tubs, which are made in a variety of shapes including circular, square and octagon, have a capacity ranging from five to ten sheets, the average being six sheets or nine pounds of clothes. However, there are a number of small capacity portable washing machines available. There are also clothes washing machines without tubs.

Wringers or Dryers.

There are two general types of clothes wringers or dryers which are used on these clothes washers. Most washers are equipped with a mechanically-driven metal or wooden wringer, with two parallel rubber rolls, that revolve in opposite directions to squeeze the water from the clothes. While most of these wringers have two hard rubber rolls, there is a tendency to use one hard and one soft rubber roll, or two soft rolls. The

purpose of the soft rubber roll is to eliminate the breakage of buttons. The wringers usually can be swung around to five or more positions and locked there. The other form of clothes dryer is the centrifugal dryer, spinner or extractor, which is similar to the extractors used in commercial laundry work. These dryers or extractors consist of metal cylinders, driven w at high speed so as to throw off the water contained in the clothes. This dryer may be in a separate compartment or the washing may take place in the dryer compartment.

Operation of Machine.

Opinions as to the proper operation of mechanical clothes washers differ among household economists. It is generally agreed, however, that soiled clothes should be sorted into four major groups and each group washed separately. White clothes such as table linen, bed linen, towels and body linen form one group. Clothes with fast colours form the second group. Coloured fabrics with 'fugitive" colours or colours of doubtful permanence form the third group and require low temperatures in washing and rinsing and rapid drying. Miscel laneous pieces such as silks, woollens, blankets and rugs also require individual attention. Clothes should be soaked overnight before being placed in the washer or the washer tub should be filled with cold water, the clothes inserted and the machine operated without the use of soap or washing compounds for five minutes.

For washing, water of from 135° to 140' F is usually employed with 1 to 4 ounces of soap. The kind and form of soap used depends upon the condition of the clothes and upon the hard ness or softness of the water available. The machine should be operated from ten to fifteen minutes, depending on the type of machine and the condition of the clothes. The washing operation should be followed by two scalding rinses in water 16o° to 18o° F with the machine operating from ten to fifteen minutes for each rinse. The hot rinses are followed by a cold rinse of ten minutes' duration. Bluing the clothes, if desired, follows the cold rinse.

Recent developments (1929) in the washing machine field include greater application of safety devices, such as the em ployment of instant releases on wringers and the enclosure of all accessible moving parts ; improved gears, bearings and lubricating means; the use of materials and finishes that are more easily kept clean by the housewife; and the development of machines for permanent installation in stationary laundry tubs. Perhaps the most important development is the two-tub washer, one compartment housing the washing mechanism and the other containing the clothes dryer or extractor which replaces the roll wringer, both mechanisms being operated from the same motor.

In the year 1928 approximately 13,000 water-power clothes washers, 64,000 hand-power washing machines, 103,00o gas and power washers, and 81o,000 electric motor driven washing machines were produced in the United States alone. Surveys show that the electric clothes washing machine is the third most popular electrical household appliance in America, being ex ceeded only by the flatiron and vacuum cleaner. It is estimated that of the 19,000,000 American homes equipped with electric service, approximc-tely 5,735,000 own electric clothes washing machines. (A. P. HO