Thread Number: 39953
Memories on coin-op dry-cleaning
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Post# 591538   4/23/2012 at 06:45 (4,357 days old) by chris74 ()        

I remember when I was a teen in the early 1990s there was a laundry center in Duesseldorf where they had coin-operated dry-cleaning machines. Nothing special on them, no push buttons, no lights, no strange symbols. They must have been out of order for a long time so I unfortunatley could not test them myself. Think they worked with tetrachloroethylene though... Anyone ever had their own experiences with such machines?




Post# 591570 , Reply# 1   4/23/2012 at 09:49 (4,357 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

They landed with much fanfare here in the early 1960s. Many coin laundry suppliers introduced them in their coin-op stores: Philco, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, Norge and later, Speed Queen. They were sort of triggered by the invention of washer-dryer combinations, except in the case of Frigidaire. In those days of cheap petrochemicals, you could do an 8 lb. load for $2.50. Often, finishing in a steam cabinet for about 50 cents extra was needed for best results. This was at a time when coin washers cost 25 cents a load and the dryers were 10 cents for ten minutes. A lot of people used them. There were some problems with clothes that were not properly aired after the cleaning including the tragic case of a child who died on a family camping trip in a sleeping bag that had recently been through a coin-op dry cleaning machine and then just packed away. They needed expert maintenance and used toxic chemicals. There were cases where the "Perk" leaked into the air of the laundry during the last minutes of the drying process (when the air in the drying chamber with small residual amounts of the solvent was vented outside) and combined with the gas flames in the dryers to produce compounds that ate holes in the clothes as they dried. The one thing that they never proved to be was "self-service." There had to be an attendant on duty. All but the Frigidaire machines used one machine for the process. Frigidaire used two machines in a cabinet, a "washer" and just above it and at a right angle to the "washer", a dryer. Because the items had to be transferred from the "washer" to the dryer while saturated with the Perk, the ceiling of the cabinet housing the dry cleaner concealed a very powerful exhaust fan to keep the operator from inhaling the fumes. I still wonder about the long term health effects on the attendants, especially the ones who smoked. The "washer" part had a lid that could only be opened with a key and the dryer door might have had an electric lock. I just remember that if there was not an attendant present, it could not be opened or used.

The last time I had any experience with one was in the late 70s when I took a wool coat to a place that had the WP machines. The price was up to $10 and they were behind a counter. The lumpenfrau attendant brushed off my interest in watching; just told me to come back in an hour. Having had a WP combo to play with a decade earlier, I was interested in seeing if the dry cleaners spun faster than the combo and if it would even spin at all with only one heavy coat in the machine. I suspect she knew there should be other stuff in with my heavy coat and did not want me to see that customers who paid $10 for a load had their stuff combined with someone else's for a new spin on being taken to the cleaners at the cleaners.


Post# 591589 , Reply# 2   4/23/2012 at 11:21 (4,357 days old) by chris74 ()        
Interesting....

I do not know if - in that special launderette - there had to be an assistant but in the late 70ies throughout the 90ies there were many dry cleaning stores around here in Germany. Almost every shopping center had one, which I loved to watch if they had the machine (mostly Boewe) in the showroom. There were not too many thoughts on the side effects of "Per" as we call it. Nowadays they tried to get a "greener" image by using liquid carbondioxide and stuff...

Post# 591627 , Reply# 3   4/23/2012 at 15:01 (4,356 days old) by wayupnorth (On a lake between Bangor and Bar Harbor, Maine)        

wayupnorth's profile picture
The Norge Villages had those coin-op dry cleaning machines around here and they worked quite well. I used to use them frequently because they were so inexpensive. They always had a container with spot remover you could pre-treat, weigh the load and put the appropriate amount of quarters in. Its too bad the EPA put a ban on them instead of retrofitting them to the new way they do it now.

Post# 591664 , Reply# 4   4/23/2012 at 18:22 (4,356 days old) by washerboy (Little Rock Arkansas)        
polly-clean

at one time we had a polly-clean (or Klean I don't remember); they had several dry cleaning machines but you had to let the person behind the counter load up your stuff. My mom never used them and I never saw anyone using either..this was in the early to mid 70's. I never realized the machines used toxic chemicials...so: Where did the used chemicials go? were they discharged into the local sewer system? sounds pertty dangerous with flames and fumes.

Post# 591678 , Reply# 5   4/23/2012 at 19:20 (4,356 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

The process was quite amazing. The same solvent that cleaned the clothes was used as a refrigerant for condensing the solvent vapor out of the 75 degree dryer air to return it to the tank in which it was kept. The solvent had to pass through filters during and after each use to be free from shmutz. This was mostly a closed system so very little of the solvent excaped, BUT, at the end, the drying chamber had to be ventilated with fresh air to remove the remaining traces of the solvent. And, of course, customers were told to thoroughly air out items before putting them away at home.

Post# 591758 , Reply# 6   4/24/2012 at 06:41 (4,356 days old) by Easyspindry (Winston-Salem, NC)        
I used a Whirlpool . . .

. . . dry cleaning machine a few times. I think it was a Poly-Klean coin op laundry which had only Whirlpool machines. The dry cleaning machines worked just fine, but somehow they never really caught on. I do remember a chemical odor in the clothes afterward.

It was an inexpensive way to get dry cleaning done. But, as has been stated already, it cost only a quarter to wash a load of clothes in a regular washing machine and about 20 or 30 cents to dry.

The dry cleaning machines were something like $2.50 for an 8 pound load and there had to be an attendant there when the machines were run.

On one occasion, I was able to peek through a door into a room that housed the rear of the machines. I didn't know what I was looking at, but it looked awfully complicated back there.

I believe this was in the early 1960's.

Yesterday, I had occasion to visit a coin op laundry. It was Wascomat equipment. We did a large load for $2.50. The dryers were a quarter for 5 minutes. Quite a difference from the 60's.

Jerry Gay

Jerry Gay


Post# 591823 , Reply# 7   4/24/2012 at 14:05 (4,355 days old) by mikeklondon (London)        
Cost in Uk

Hi My Local coin op still has one, I go there a few times a year to wash a very heavy bed cover in there 50lb load washer, I noted that the cost for cleaning an 8 lb load was about £9.00 not sure what that would be in $ at the moment. The cost of using a 50lb washer is £7.00 washer there is no extractor to it then cost £6/7 in the dryer.

Post# 591966 , Reply# 8   4/25/2012 at 04:58 (4,355 days old) by chris74 ()        
Costs

Dry-cleaning with full service has always been expensive. I believe a single shirt would be around 3 €... There were never coin-op only dry-cleaners over here...

Yes, it is true: the filtering was a complicated thing but all of the Perc was somehow re-distilled and re-used for the next load. I wonder why they never had problems with shrinking because the machines also dried the clothes, even delicate woolens. But I believe the Perc needed just a lower temperature to condense than water.

A 50 lb. washer? That is impressive, the laundry centers here have max. 12 kg machines, mostly only 10...


Post# 592038 , Reply# 9   4/25/2012 at 11:29 (4,355 days old) by mikeklondon (London)        
Coin Op's UK

Hi
Next time I visit I'll take a few pics and post, They only have 1 50lb machine and 2 35lb the rest are 18lb they have a large extractor as well but have been waiting for parts for a long time. I dont think they are pushing to fix it as you have spend 3x the amount in the dryer. They also have 2 TRI wax machines for washing feather duvet's and pillows + the one dry cleaner.


Post# 592283 , Reply# 10   4/26/2012 at 07:44 (4,354 days old) by chris74 ()        
TRI wax?

What is this? I do wash our feather-filled duvets on 60 degrees C in the 12 kg machine with a special detergent ("Dauni"). No problems so far...

Post# 592286 , Reply# 11   4/26/2012 at 08:05 (4,354 days old) by bellaboy ()        
perc

The dry-cleaning machinery  uses a bout 40-60 degree Celsius to dry and special woolens can go down to 25-35 c.this is possible sins the perc evaporates at 20-30 dgr and with a chiller it turns in to a liquid again .i in my dryclean i uses 45 dgr and a 30 lbs load is dry in 18 min . total cyl 45 min dry to dry. the old coin up machinery also used F113 solvent  witch is baned . it was a fluor carbon 


Post# 592328 , Reply# 12   4/26/2012 at 11:48 (4,354 days old) by dnastrau (Lords Valley, PA)        
Coin op "HYPUR" dry-cleaning machines in the '70

I recall seeing some coin-op dry-cleaning machines in Bloomington, Indiana back in 1976 or so that I believe were branded "HYPUR." They sort of looked like a small coin-op dryer but with a rectangular window. I don't remember actually seeing anyone use them.

Post# 592333 , Reply# 13   4/26/2012 at 12:05 (4,354 days old) by whirlcool (Just North Of Houston, Texas)        

Our local NorgeVillage had dry cleaning machines. You put your own clothing in the machine and then told the attendant what you had in there and she would tell you to come back in a few hours.
My mother would use this service to spring clean the living room and dining room drapes. When she would pick them up they'd be pleated and banded. You took them home and then hung them up and a few days later cut the bands.
The house really had that "dry clean" smell for a few days afterwards.

Little did we know back then....


Post# 592373 , Reply# 14   4/26/2012 at 16:26 (4,353 days old) by dj-gabriele ()        
The same solvent that cleaned the clothes was used as a refr

Gosh, those were the times of chlorofluorocarbon solvents, eww! Like R113.
Also venting perc et simila in the laundry?! Gosh I'm so glad we always had closed circuit machines!
I think I'd be scared to use such a machine...

Even our old Bowe dry-cleaner of the 80s was closed circuit and with recovery of vapors during drying! And our current ILSA one is leak proof and totally closed circuit too.


Post# 592414 , Reply# 15   4/26/2012 at 21:39 (4,353 days old) by bendixmark (Winchester Mass)        
Westy Drycleaners

When I was very young my mother used to take me into a drycleaners run by this nice man named Mr. Macadino and his store had these 4 beautiful coin operated westinghouse drycleaners from the mid 50s.They were the same design as the westy combo and the tub had a lint filter that flowed into the load as it washed which was spectacular.There were lights on either side of the machine,one said wash and the other said dry depending on what it was doing.One of my fondest childhood memories.

Post# 592422 , Reply# 16   4/26/2012 at 22:13 (4,353 days old) by launderall (Minneapolis, MN Orig home to Listerine & pop up Toastmaster)        

launderall's profile picture
Watched the building & attended the grand opening of the NORGE Viking Village laundry & self serve dry cleaners. Check out this websight if you liked the polka dot balls!

CLICK HERE TO GO TO launderall's LINK


Post# 592450 , Reply# 17   4/27/2012 at 05:40 (4,353 days old) by Tomturbomatic (Beltsville, MD)        

Gary, Thanks for the link to the photos. That is some long enduring plastic, out in the UV rays, heat & cold and still bright and shiny.

Post# 776210 , Reply# 18   8/8/2014 at 05:54 (3,520 days old) by dryclean1 (Walton, NY)        
drycleaner of 20years

I was a drycleaner and spotter for 20 years. From 1990 until 2010.the shop I started at used to have a Laundromat in the 60s with those coin-op drycleaning units. the drycleaner that I learned from used to service them back then. He was in the biz for 50 years. These machines did use perc. Which is the solvent that I used for the better part of my career. It is very toxic if not used properly by trained people. The vapors when heated in a regular dryer can produce dangerous fumes. Before I left the biz we had gone to all hydrocarbon machines. In ny state the regs are very loose. The dec would love to outlaw perc. If anyone has any dryclean questions feel free to contact me @stonefinger149@yahoo thanks Bill

Post# 776260 , Reply# 19   8/8/2014 at 10:50 (3,520 days old) by cornutt (Huntsville, AL USA)        

I have distinct memories of the self-service machines at the Norge Village here. Unlike what some others have said above, you did not need to work with the attendant at this Village to use the machines, although there was an attendant on duty if you needed help. (They offered drop-off and full service, so there was an attendant there anyway.) The models I remember had two big rectangular indicator lights. One said "IN USE" and was lit while the machine was running. The other said "DO NOT USE"; I guess it was tied to a timer that measured when the filter needed cleaning. Sometimes the "DO NOT USE" would come on in the middle of a cycle, but it always finished the cycle anyway.

A few times I was allowed in the back to see the solvent handling system. There was a big tank where it was stored; distribution piping to fill and drain the machines, and a set of vent ducts that I think held the condensors and also vented the machine to the outside at the end of the cycle. Outside the building you could smell it, and if you stuck your head inside the machine right after the cycle completed the fumes would make you dizzy.

Off to one side, there was a countertop for prepping clothes to be dry cleaned. There was a big sign that explained all of the prep steps you were supposed to do; I don't remember it all, but some of it consisted of removing plastic buttons (which might dissolve in the solvent), turning ladies' blouses inside out (why?), and pre-treating spots. There were two water sprayers on long hoses with a sign that said in big letters, "THIS IS WATER", and advised not to use too much because it could cause shrinkage.

There were IIRC 10 machines, and during the day most of them would be in use (some being used by the store for its drop-off service). My mom used to use one occasionally, and I remember going in a few times and having to wait for one. I think the cycle took about an hour, maybe a bit less. There was also a big 20-lb. or so machine which cost something like $5 a load; although it had a coin acceptor, it was usually more conveninet to pay the attendant and then get them to start it with a key.

The last time I remember seeing the machines in service was in the early '80s, when I lived in a nearby apartment building. I moved away for a while and didn't go back there until about 1990, by which time the machines were all broken down and some of them had been disassembled. Shortly after, they were gone.


Post# 776361 , Reply# 20   8/9/2014 at 00:12 (3,519 days old) by laundromat (Hilo, Hawaii)        

laundromat's profile picture
Fortunately, the folks where I grew up had lots of dirty laundry and there were lots of laundry centers to choose from.NorgeTown, Westinghouse Laundromat, Sunshine Laundry(Philco Bendix), CoinClean (FRIGIDAIRE), Whirlpool , and Speed Queen (similar to Philco Bendix) . The Frigidaires we had were all turquoise and had fluorescent lighting above the washer.Its lid had the circular window and they charged $8.00/8 pound load. The Westinghouse Laundromats had the slanted front and were at a reasonable level to load or unload. The Norge models were lined up and some were not drycleaning combos but used water and were coin op washer dryer comhos. The Whirlpools were among the fewest repair models and the Bendix models were my favorite for many reasons. Mostly because they had the best results in getting suites really clean. I had the chance twice to get one. The Frigidaire which was two sets,not just one. And, the Norge. That one I missed by just a few hours. The Norge was still in use before they rebuilt/renewed that laundry. They went from Norge to Kenmore commercial machines. What a mistake that was. Those machines were all replaced with Wascomat units. In commercial laundry equipment, my preference is Dexter. Their front loaders do a great job in a little time. We have a great commercial laundry here using all the Dexters made for coin op use.Rarely do I see any of them out of order.Scott,the owner,and I talk a lot about the users and their private methods of doing laundry. He and I were talking about differences among the many commercial machines made today and ,after talking about the difference between the top loading Whirlpool units he had a row of seven of being a problem because they were braking down 12 times more frequently then the Dexters. One week later, they were all replaced with Double Loaders. I love that place!!! I stop at Subway,get a half veg. Sub and go and watch the many rows of Dexters get used,abused and shined up because the attendants have been well taught in keeping all he machines so clean and shiny. Scott asked me if I'd ever be interested in buying the place. I told him ,if he'd asked me that back in 2011, I would have taken him up on it.

Post# 776402 , Reply# 21   8/9/2014 at 06:29 (3,519 days old) by jetcone (Schenectady-Home of Calrods,Monitor Tops,Toroid Transformers)        
Like Cornutt

jetcone's profile picture

My mom used to use the Norge Dry Cleaners from time to time, and you could get a nice whiff right after the load finished but you could also smell it outdoors in the parking lot. It was like fresh ditto paper in school.

I loved the turquoise color of the machines and the cool oval doors on the Norge's. But the tub enamel was a really dark navy and so you really couldn't see inside unless when the clothes sloshed against the window.


Post# 776426 , Reply# 22   8/9/2014 at 09:40 (3,519 days old) by cornutt (Huntsville, AL USA)        

That's right, they were dark inside and it was hard to see what was going on. I was always kind of disappointed that it didn't spray the solvent into the tub where you could see it -- I think there was only one fill/drain line, so it filled from the bottom. The glass got really warm during the dry cycle.

L's article reminded me that there was briefly a Norgetown here, around 1970. I only ever remember being in there once. It didn't stay in business very long; almost immediately after it opened, the neighborhood it was in declined severely. I don't recall any water-using combos in there, and the Village definitely never had any.



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