Laundry Day!
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This is our Model H, "Beatty" antique washing machine built somewhere between 1932 and 1938 in Fergus, Ontario, Canada. On it's side label it reads,
"Easier to operate - washes faster - lasts longer."
Well! I'm here to tell you that it only goes as fast as I can crank that handle after giving the gear underneath a little kick! It's a natural workout, because to get a really good motion going on the internal agitator, I have to grab the handle with both hands and position my legs one behind the other to get up any speed. It works every muscle in my body, and THAT is a very good thing!
As far as lasting longer, it certainly has! It's hard to believe that this machine is between 80 and 90 years old and still fully operational. Things were certainly built to last a long time ago.
We purchased the machine from a friend of a friend, and I do believe it cost us only 350CAD. Quite the bargain, and quite less expensive than the electric washer we have hooked up in an outbuilding. (We use that in the summertime and provide its electricity with a gas generator.)
The whites require boiling hot water and a little bleach. I start the laundry with kettle water that I keep going full-time. Mind you, all this water comes from the lake, and it's under ice right now.
Of course, essential laundry accessories are needed! The beauty of the toilet plunger is that it has never been used for its intended purpose as we have an outhouse. (Right now, we are using a log for that.) The plunger serves as an auxiliary agitator and keeps the laundry organized in the stainless steel kettle (copper on the outside).
Each small load takes about 1.5 hours to complete. The process includes:
Filling the kettle with water
Manually agitating
Soaking
Manually agitating again
Wringing
Dumping the soapy water outside
Filling the tank again
Manually agitating
Soaking
Manually agitating again
Double Wringing
Hanging to dry on the indoor racks
I dump the water outside on a hill so I don't overwhelm our drain bed. We learned the hard way to dump it outside because last year, during the spring snow melt, one of our two drain beds became saturated and backed up for days.
The laundry is generally dry in less than 24 hours.
A new wringer is installed in this photo. It's not as sturdy as the original, but it fit the brace like a glove, and it performs remarkably well, AND it's well known to be safe technology! I love how I get to control speed!
The advantage of the wood floor is that spills don't cause damage. In fact, I actively encourage spills because they keep my floor clean in a very modern and efficient, one-step process. The rubber gloves are the best thing since sliced bread because they keep my hands from being chewed up.
When I'm done with the laundry, I drag the machine back under the stairs and take two Tylenol.
Here's a good view of the agitator, stainless steel drum and drain hole. The agitator slips off which makes it to easy remove any trapped clothing under the wooden pegs. Sometimes, when the pegs dry, they slip out of the metal sockets. I solved that dilemma by inserting them and soaking the agitator upside down in the wash water for about 15 minutes before loading the laundry.
This beautiful art deco lid keeps the dust and ash out of the kettle in between washes. Late in the game, I discovered that it also keeps the heat in the wash while it's soaking.
ONE FINAL WORD!
Do you remember how your clever mum used to add a little white vinegar to her dish washing rinse water so that the suds would be eradicated? I thought that would be a good thing to add to my laundry rinse water.
Big mistake! An hour and a half worth of labor came out smelling like vinegar, and I didn't notice it until after the clothes had dried. I wore them anyway.