Wringer Washers
Anybody remember those old wringer washers? I remember my grandma using her Thor electric wringer washer. Monday was wash day. She kept it out on the back porch.
I was looking at some old pictures and happen to see one of me with some of my Granny's kittens on the back porch back in 1955 and there sits that old Thor Wringer Washer behind me.
The Mighty Thor was the first electric-powered washing machine. Introduced in 1908 by the Hurley Machine Company of Chicago, Illinois. A patent was issued on August 9th 1910.
I was looking at some old pictures and happen to see one of me with some of my Granny's kittens on the back porch back in 1955 and there sits that old Thor Wringer Washer behind me.
The Mighty Thor was the first electric-powered washing machine. Introduced in 1908 by the Hurley Machine Company of Chicago, Illinois. A patent was issued on August 9th 1910.
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I remember them,...one of my great-aunts had one in the basement still in the mid-eighties, and it still worked. 0 -
We had one when I was little. My mom kept it on the back porch also. I think that was because of the drain. My sister got her arm caught it the wringer once. Don 0 -
Maytag had the longest running production of any of the wringer washers. And amazingly the last one was made on Nov. 22, 1983. I thought they quit making them back in the 60s. 0 -
My wife had one when I met her in 1991. Of course, she also had the new kind. She used the wringer for rugs and big towels.
When I was about 6, my mom got her arm caught in hers and had to wait until I came looking for her and help her extricate herself.0 -
There is a Crosley wringer washer setting on my back porch. My Grandmother bought it new in the mid 1990's. Another one in a shed, I think it was working but got sidelined after the new one arrived. A third washer setting out behind the barn, rusted and in pieces. Grandparents refused to get a regular washer because they used too much water. Growing up in the Great Depression, they had a very different outlook on everyday life then people today. 0 -
my mother kept her Maytag in the wash house out back long after she had an "automatic" washer in the house. she used the old maytag to wash really dirty work cloths
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My mother had a aluminum square tank Maytag wringer washer still in the late 1960's. I always liked them. Out in my garage I have a one cylinder 1929 Maytag 2 stroke washing machine engine. I also have two Briggs and Stratton model WMB 4 stroke washing machine engines from the late 1940's. Back in the day, many washing machines had gas powered engines on them. No electric power in lots of rural areas. Many Maytag one and two cylinder washing machine engines are still around. Many replacement parts for them also. At one big antique engine show we counted 157 Maytag engines.
EvilDr2350 -
I remember them,, 0 -
Hit and miss engines with PTO or belt drive accessories ran many prior to the electric grid reaching rural areas...
My grandfather was still using a hit and miss when I was a kid.
Mike0 -
my parents bought a used one I will guess mid to late 1960's . had in on the porch
any way my mom loved it as it saved walking to a laundry mat a couple blocks away each week had a cloths line that was shared remember the winter clothes frozen solid0 -
Smitty500mag wrote:Anybody remember those old wringer washers? I remember my grandma using her Thor electric wringer washer. Monday was wash day. She kept it out on the back porch.
I was looking at some old pictures and happen to see one of me with some of my Granny's kittens on the back porch back in 1955 and there sits that old Thor Wringer Washer behind me.
The Mighty Thor was the first electric-powered washing machine. Introduced in 1908 by the Hurley Machine Company of Chicago, Illinois. A patent was issued on August 9th 1910.
that picture and wash house could have been me except instead of cats it was a herd [11] chihuahua dogs. mom ised the wringer washer for cleaning all our oil field work clothes...used the good washing machine for dress clothes.0 -
We used one when I was growing up. Washed in the washer and rinsed in a large oval galvanized tub. Pull out the washer in the middle of the kitchen, set the tub up on two chairs. Then draw water from the cistern with a bucket on a rope to fill them. I usually did this on wash day in the morning before school, then emptied them out when I got home. 0 -
Only thing I remember about them is that apparently people kept getting their tits in them. 0 -
Oh yeah! Mom got her first one in about 1950.
Also remember Mom and her sisters visiting their parents at the family farm. In the back yard in the shade of a huge Black Walnut Tree, they would build some coals and a blazing fire under a big black cast iron pot, boil the water and dip & stir the clothing (separate whites and colored) and sheets that was hung on wood poles in and out of the scalding water, which would be transferred to Number 3 Washtubs of cooler water where they'd scrub and wring away! Those were the days!!!!!!! For us kids, that is!!!!0 -
I've always wanted to score one of the Wringer set ups, to get all the moisture/water out, prior to hanging.
I see a few (Northern Tools, ) etc. have a deck mounted roller set up for outside use. My intention.
If you've got one you would be willing to part with - I'd be interested.
I actually like/prefer to do laundry "Old School," unless it is below freezing outside.0 -
I had a friend who lost two fingers to one of those when he was a kid. 0 -
dcon12 wrote:We had one when I was little. My mom kept it on the back porch also. I think that was because of the drain. My sister got her arm caught it the wringer once. Don
I have a cousin who hurt his arm rather badly the same way.0 -
I see lots of them in Amish country. I'm old enough to have seen them running off a "hit and miss" engine. Saw one a while back running off a B&S gas engine. It takes several pulleys to gear a B&S down slow enough to run a washing machine. 0 -
I've seen used Maytag wringer washers sell for more than $100 here. 0 -
Hessian wrote:I had a friend who lost two fingers to one of those when he was a kid.
Did he learn not to put his fingers where they don't belong?0 -
My mom used one for years to wash her rugs. An yes got her boobs stuck in it. We kids laughed like crazy. Soon as dad got home we had to tell him, he laughed too. Today they sell for good money to the Amish. Who like the square tank maytags. They put gas powdered moters on them or attach belts to them off steam motors. Nice clean units bring up to 300.00. 0 -
My grandmother had one. I remember going to her house in Hot Springs, South Dakota in 1965 and watching in amazement as she ran the clothes through it. By God that thing got the water out!
Grammy Lewis lived in town in a modern town, she had electricity and modern plumbing, central heat, but, she had a wood cook stove. She said it cooked better than an electric or gas stove.0 -
allen griggs wrote:Grammy Lewis lived in town in a modern town, she had electricity and modern plumbing, central heat, but, she had a wood cook stove. She said it cooked better than an electric or gas stove.
I went to Alexandria, VA on Thanksgiving to visit a great uncle by marriage back in 1962. He had built his mom a new house with all new appliances but she had to have her wood stove. No way would she use an electric stove. It looked odd sitting there in a new house beside all the new stuff.
But the old lady knew what she was doing. It was Thanksgiving and that was the best Thanksgiving meal I've ever eaten. I've never seen so much food at one table. Man could that woman cook. I was a skinny kid at that time and I gained over 5 pounds in the couple of days that I spent there.0 -
Back in the mid 50's in Fredricks Hall area of Louisa County,Va. granny had a Maytag wringer 2 cycle. Had a big external flywheel with a kick starter and a long flexible exhaust hose that you snaked thru a crack past the outside door. House was in historical register and had I believe a shotgun hallway crossways of house for circulation.
Granny's Maytag was broken down with parts piled in corner and she was reduced to washing grandpa's bib overhalls on wash board stuck in a large tub. Now that was hard work as grandpa was a sawmiller and those bibs were really nasty from all that sawdust and tree sap.
My Uncle Ollie arrived one day with a new piston and rings for the Maytag. He gave the parts to Granny and said let Junior there fix your Maytag as he is handy and is always fixing that old Harley 125CC. I guess I was about 13 or so. Anyway put the motor back together and kicked it a couple times and it started right up.
I will never forget the look on Granny's face as she wiped the tears from her cheeks with her apron.0 -
mmppres wrote:My mom used one for years to wash her rugs.
My Mom did too! I have the thing now in my basement.
Been there for twenty years. Rinse tubs too.
I bet it would work today. I have no dirty rugs though.0
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