Pre historic Apex Washing Machine

But a domestic washer by Apex from 1920's. You'd need to be a fairly well off middle class home (or above) to afford a washing machine in most of the country at that time. With that wealth came a home with either a laundry area, or at least space somewhere for these not small machines, along with tubs and everything else.

A small commercial laundry might use a domestic type washing machine then, just as they to nowadays. But by 1920's there were better options for true commercial laundries.

It comes down to what industrial/commercial places had then that American housewives mostly didn't; extractors/spin dryers. True you could find twin tub washers with "spin drier", but don't think anyone then bothered selling stand alone extractors for home use.

oldapplianceads.com/apex-electri...

Thing to remember about laundry is things break down into two basic methods; you either move water through textiles, or move textiles through water. From those two camps came a wide variety of washing machines from late 1800's through early 1900's to about just before or after WWI.

By 1930's and certainly in years running up to WWII most of the odd or whatever type washing machines largely vanished as two main types came to dominate American households; tub with a central beater, and H-axis washer.

Many of the inventors/companies of those early washers ended up merging or being bought by others for various reasons including getting hands on patents.


Forum Topics & Rules Manuals & Literature	New users Click-here to sign-up

Post# 1094461 10/25/2020 at 10:08 (1,276 days old) by moparguy (Virginia)
Checkrate/Likes 3 OK, not prehistoric, but (according to the post) 1920s. It's huge, maybe it was an early motorized commercial washer? Anyway, thought everyone would enjoy seeing it! richmond.craigslist.org/atq/d/mo... CLICK HERE TO GO TO moparguy's LINK on Richmond Craigslist Photos... < > Photo 1 of 2 View Full Size

Post# 1094474 , Reply# 1 10/25/2020 at 11:45 (1,276 days old) by foraloysius (Leeuwarden, Friesland, the Netherlands)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Lee Maxwell has one in his museum. Here's a picture. You can find it on his website, machine ID is 641. CLICK HERE TO GO TO foraloysius's LINK View Full Size

Post# 1094606 , Reply# 2 10/26/2020 at 07:47 (1,275 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes *No, not commercial* But a domestic washer by Apex from 1920's. You'd need to be a fairly well off middle class home (or above) to afford a washing machine in most of the country at that time. With that wealth came a home with either a laundry area, or at least space somewhere for these not small machines, along with tubs and everything else. A small commercial laundry might use a domestic type washing machine then, just as they to nowadays. But by 1920's there were better options for true commercial laundries. It comes down to what industrial/commercial places had then that American housewives mostly didn't; extractors/spin dryers. True you could find twin tub washers with "spin drier", but don't think anyone then bothered selling stand alone extractors for home use. oldapplianceads.com/apex-electri... Thing to remember about laundry is things break down into two basic methods; you either move water through textiles, or move textiles through water. From those two camps came a wide variety of washing machines from late 1800's through early 1900's to about just before or after WWI. By 1930's and certainly in years running up to WWII most of the odd or whatever type washing machines largely vanished as two main types came to dominate American households; tub with a central beater, and H-axis washer. Many of the inventors/companies of those early washers ended up merging or being bought by others for various reasons including getting hands on patents.