Antique Overhead Lineshaft Machines (Independence, IA)

Locomotives, farm equipment and so much more were invented to run harnessing power of steam.

Manufacturing and other facilities long had used line shaft to power various equipment, but power came from animals (in a cage or otherwise turning a wheel)or water wheel. Steam power allowed for all sorts of medium to large plants on farms, manufacturing and so on.

First steam (power) laundries of Victorian era were not called such because they used steam to heat water, irons, etc.. (which of course they did), but because steam provided power that ran line shafts which distributed power via system of belts and so forth to run washers, extractors, ironers, and other mechanical equipment.

Once electricity became widespread along with motors invented that were small and powerful enough to be fitted onto individual equipment, line shaft power quickly fell out of favor.

In many steam laundries and other plants "steam" now also provided energy for generator plants that produced electricity. The "waste" steam and or clean diverted from same boilers also provide energy for heating water (in washers) ironers, irons...

My guess is whatever plant is in linked OP stuck with line shaft for various reasons until they went out of business, closed or otherwise shut down.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_shaft...


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Post# 1164773 11/24/2022 at 18:40 (516 days old) by LowEfficiency (Iowa)
Checkrate/Likes 3 What are the odds of a setup like this surviving intact? www.facebook.com/marketpl... Photos... < > Photo 1 of 6 View Full Size

Post# 1164774 , Reply# 1 11/24/2022 at 18:42 (516 days old) by LowEfficiency (Iowa)
Checkrate/Likes Listing text: "Industrial Vintage from early 1900's" "I have a shed containing dry cleaning equipment used in the early 1900's. I'm not sure what it can be used for or if it can be repurposed but pretty cool stuff. Worst case scenario, it's a lot of heavy metal. Basically we need it moved so we can take the building down so it's best dollar offer or trading the equipment for removing the building. If you are not interested but know someone who might be please let us know. I'd rather see a picker get it than have it be scraped."

Post# 1164808 , Reply# 2 11/25/2022 at 06:27 (516 days old) by thedrycleaner (walton)
Checkrate/Likes 2 *old petro cleaner for sure* I only wish I could aquire this great set up, its from the 1930s-40s. the washer is what we call in the trade a "Bellie" washer and this system used a solvent called stoddard solvent which was a new safer solvent at the time.110 flash point. this was surely a drycleaning plant many years ago. do you have any other smaller collectible items from this awesome old plant? email me and let me know. thanks the drycleaner

Post# 1164815 , Reply# 3 11/25/2022 at 07:09 (516 days old) by turquoisedude (.)
Checkrate/Likes drycleaner, Dave, the poster is not selling this equipment. A link to the FB Marketplace ad has been included in the OP.

Post# 1164823 , Reply# 4 11/25/2022 at 09:43 (516 days old) by turbokinetic (Northport, Alabama USA)
Checkrate/Likes Hi Dave - thanks so much for sharing these pictures! I love the old industrial stuff and it's amazing to see laundry equipment still surviving. Sincerely, David

Post# 1164829 , Reply# 5 11/25/2022 at 10:53 (516 days old) by Launderess (Quiet Please, There�s a Lady on Stage)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Industrial Revolution Began With & Was Powered By Steam* Locomotives, farm equipment and so much more were invented to run harnessing power of steam. Manufacturing and other facilities long had used line shaft to power various equipment, but power came from animals (in a cage or otherwise turning a wheel)or water wheel. Steam power allowed for all sorts of medium to large plants on farms, manufacturing and so on. First steam (power) laundries of Victorian era were not called such because they used steam to heat water, irons, etc.. (which of course they did), but because steam provided power that ran line shafts which distributed power via system of belts and so forth to run washers, extractors, ironers, and other mechanical equipment. Once electricity became widespread along with motors invented that were small and powerful enough to be fitted onto individual equipment, line shaft power quickly fell out of favor. In many steam laundries and other plants "steam" now also provided energy for generator plants that produced electricity. The "waste" steam and or clean diverted from same boilers also provide energy for heating water (in washers) ironers, irons... My guess is whatever plant is in linked OP stuck with line shaft for various reasons until they went out of business, closed or otherwise shut down. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_shaft...

Post# 1164834 , Reply# 6 11/25/2022 at 11:31 (516 days old) by LowEfficiency (Iowa)
Checkrate/Likes 1 Here are a few more of the "chemistry" photos from the listing. And yes, correct, it isn't mine - but it does sound like the seller wants them to go to a good home instead of being scrapped. If you're interested, Bill, it might be worth sending them a message! Photos... < > Photo 1 of 4 View Full Size