LAUNDRY MACHINERY (from ME. la u n• laundcrc, kinder. Wa sherwoma n, from OE larandicr, washerman, from Lat. lora dims, gerundive of la•are, to wash). The cal appliances used in steam laundries include the wheeled truck for carrying the clothes from one machine or appliance to another, the washing machine. the drying apparatus, mechanical sprinklers, stareltin machines, and in addition to the mangle and ordinary ironer, a multitude of specially shaped machines for ironing sleeves, collars. and cuffs, for finishing the edges of collars and for tinting ruffles.
The quality of water used in a laundry is of great importance. If the water is hard, muddy. or colored, a special plant for softening or filter ing may be necessary. A large amount of steam is required, both for motive power and for heat ing the water. Two general types of washers are in use, revolving and stationary. In the first the revolution of closed cylinders keeps the clothes in motion; in the second the cleansing is performed by the strokes of plungers. The boil
ing. rinsing, and bluing may all be performed in the washer, or in another tub. The water is heated by steam-pipes and sometimes the boil ing is done under steam-pressure. in which ease the boiler most be especially strong. Drying is effected by passing the clothes through a wringer, then placing them in a centrifugal dryer. (See DaYiNc-MAcni8Es.) The drying is sometimes starching, there are specially constructed jack ed starch-cookers to make the starch. Varicms types of machine are used for different shaped articles. See Sidney Tebbutt's paper on "Steam Laundry Machinery." read in 1899 before the Institution of .1\lechanieal Engineers of Great Britain, and reprinted in Cassier's Magazine (London and New York) for February. 1899.