Washing Machine Museum - manually operated simple machines with cranks, pulleys, levers, and gears

Tour of manual machines in Lee Maxell's Washing Machine Museum in Eaton, CO:
www.oldewash.com
Check out other videos in the Washing Machine Museum playlist:
• Washing Machine Museum

[@MrMetalclay]

I never thought I'd be so fascinated by washing machines. Excellent demonstrations

[@DrDaveBilliards]

Thanks. I’m glad you liked the video.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

Agreed. Being a mechanical engineer, I love all of the old mechanisms.

[@jenniferdrouin732]

Dear Dave, I love that you show us all these manual washing machines and electric washers. I wish we could make such machines today. I would make one in a heart beat if I could find the parts. I am tired of spending my hard earned money on washing machines that require constant repairs and die after a few years and don't even get my clothing clean! I also hate that I have to wash my clothing three times to get it as clean as my mom used to get it in one load. I also hate that I have to Jerry rig things to get truly hot water and full tub of water. My current heavy duty Whirlpool piece of crap barely agitates, barely fills and shreds my clothing. I find it ironic that people are allowed to purchase multi-head showers that use 45 gallons a minute but we can't get decent clothes washers that use the proper amount of water and hot water. Clean clothing is a public health issue. We all need to have clean clothing and be able to wash our clothing and bedding in 160 to 180 farenheit to kill germs. No one needs a multi-head shower using 45 gallons in order to get clean. My mom did five loads a day for 20 years on old washing machine from the 1980's and I only remember one repair.

[@haileeornataliekristynwalk82]

Wow what a collection! I never knew so many had existed. You must have hundreds and every single type ever made

[@jenniferdrouin732]

Building one of these machines would be a great science project.

[@creidvite9152]

Kinda wish they could still be manufactured and sold today The sound of those gears can be quite relaxing for me haha

[@NestorCustodio]

@ 4:20 -- I'm *amazed* that ''up and over'' gearing works as smoothly as it does once you get it going. A remarkable piece of engineering from way back in the day.

[@hannahomary1874]

There really should be more manual clothes washing machines similar to ones from back then. I searched everywhere for a hand crank/manual clothes washing alternative, and there are only a handful on the market. They are quite pricey for only having the capacity to wash a micro-load too. A lot of the manual washing machines can't wring out clothes as well, so you're left buying another machine to wring out your clothes or waste time twisting them one by one with the help of another person. I really think an all in one (reasonably sized) manual crank, shake, or scrubber type of clothes washer that wrings the clothes and fits in a bathtub would be a better alternative to things like the Wonderwash or Laundry Pod. With the Wonderwash, it's like 45$ and it does not even wring out the clothes, the Laundry pod is around 100$, not to mention it has a small load capacity. The whole reason I am even considering getting these things is out of frugality. I do not want to pay a couple hundred dollars for a device that only lets me wash a few shirts and a handkerchief. Anyways, I absolutely love these old washing machines! :) So cool!

[@JaneWagman]

Agreed! I have been trying to find a human-powered machine and there is nothing but micro machines that can't even handle a single pair of sturdy jeans.

[@tysongonsorowski8574]

I absolutely understand and appreciate the engineering in these machines, beautiful!

[@pnq8787]

Those gearing mechanisms are brillient. Shows the old guys weren't so dumb!

[@Vaderghost20]

I venture to say that back then they were smarter than we are today. I mean at least I had sense.

[@gwcoty0715]

@@Vaderghost20 agree fully

[@ufoengines]

They did make a washing machine that used a "Water Motor" ! Very good video editing, nice and quick. I like that.

[@MCRnursery]

I didn't know there was so many ways to wash your clothes back in the day. People today generally use electric contraptions. Some still wash by hand and some use home built devices. I've personally washed clothes by hand, by foot, and with a bucket and modified plunger (unused of course). Washing with the bucket device gets my clothes cleaner than a modern washing machine. However it's a lot of work and a lot of time. I've been tempted to try making an automated device similar to the bucket and plunger just for the heck of it. I hate washing clothes in a modern washing machine then finding them still dirty when they come out. You can try this. Wash clothes in a modern washing machine then take them out and wash them in a bucket. The water will get dirty unless you happen to have a decent enough modern washing machine. What I really want is one of those old washers that let you agitate the clothes however long you want via an electric motor. A good half hour or so of agitation in hot soapy water will do wonders.

[@angelatollens5297]

i

[@DrDaveBilliards]

@barnett256 "Old School" ain't easier, but it's sometimes better.

[@doloresofcourse]

Amazing video. I had no idea so many washing machine types had been created. All of these are a solid gym workout. Those poor women.

[@sweetpadre]

That was the easy part. The men did the hard work.

[@siamakaghazeinali]

i like 1.35 very smart one

[@Bear-Ur2ez]

I am fascinated and really enjoy the history in this video. Thank you for sharing

[@DrDaveBilliards]

I'm glad you liked it. You're welcome.

[@jenniferdrouin732]

The German machine which can have a fire built under it. The rack and pinion machine is great. The fly wheel, man I wish I had something like this to work on when I was young or learned about it. Instead I was an English major..

[@Ihavetruth22]

Great. Just saw over under gears never seen before. amazing.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

@alec29689 Thank you for the nice comment.

[@sherellucasemmanuelcarsola6896]

wow wow wow amazinh machines! inlove mechanical machines. super love the drum type german washer. simple and effective.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

Thanks for the info and compliments.

[@zigg99]

I started doing it long ago when our apt building upped the price of the washers. I still use the machine for sheet/towels, but hand was a lot of our clothes and they really do come cleaner, and they don't ware out as quickly.

[@keithtynan7469]

These are really great!

[@whisperinpints7027]

Great video and very interesting subject. I live in Walnut, Iowa, where one could be forgiven for thinking the town was built around antique shops, because they comprise about 90% of the local businesses. Walnut is euphemistically called The Antique Capitol of Iowa. We have an annual Antique Walk on Father's Day weekends where people from around the country bring their antiques to sell. Several streets are closed off to traffic and "stalls" are allotted for vendors. Thousands of people flood into our little town every year for the event to sell or purchase antiques. Your shop would be a major attraction if you relocated here. (hint!) LOL Thank you for sharing a wonderful look at an important and relatively unknown part of our history and culture. Personally, I believe your video is comfortably anchored within the Top 5 videos I've ever seen on KZbin.

[@laughingwithgeek]

All you need is a five gallon bucket an a new dollar store plunger you lift the plunger up an down to agitate the clothes an they will come clean an you will save dollars every wk. an or quarters for machines.

[@shurmike]

very interesting. I live alone and see no problem washing and wringing clothes by hand do a load every three days hang em on the line

[@jenniferdrouin732]

The double machine tub with rack and pinion.

[@behindenemylines3149]

When the power goes out or living off the grid this is the shit you need to know.

[@nictheartist]

You could combine the laundry with an exercise routine :-)

[@WachdByBigBrother]

Some of the wooden circles with pegs look like spinning cow teats.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

Got milk?

[@whisperinpints7027]

No. But I do have wood splinters in my gums now. Toothpicks!

[@damthom4237]

ชอบ

[@DrDaveBilliards]

... and you get some exercise in the process. Unfortunately, the typical "consumer" doesn't like hard work or exercise, and they would prefer that a machine wash their clothes.

[@cowan3395]

In the past these would have been handy before electricity etc. I'm sure only the rich 😂 also I'm assuming that in the past it was more of a house chore for the clean clothes. House work. Very low standards and then hang them out to dry would take about a week.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

@@cowan3395 ... and they didn't have the Internet either? !!!

[@siamakaghazeinali]

Washing clothes were not an easy task in the past, it was a hard duty for mothers, I remember my mother sitting in the snow and mixing some hot water and soap in the laundry basin and washing them by hand then cleaning them with very cold water! every week, her hand was injured

[@jenniferdrouin732]

I wish there were an engineering class for English major in adult education.

[@JesusDiaz-vs2lb]

I have one and it works wonders!

[@Mark-zu6oz]

The woman at 0:10 does not look convinced to use that device.

[@kenharris8743]

19th century the years of gears.

[@timothyjones8921]

Lots of good ideas for survivalists. Clothes washing after the zombie apocalypse doesn't have to be 100% "acoustic'". You can add a spring or whatever in order to return motion. IMHO, agitation, that is, reciprocating motion is ESSENTIAL to any young inventor seeking to create the human powered machine of tomorrow. Simply putting vanes inside of a drum and spinning the laundry doesn't make the cut in my view. If you can't create a back and forth mechanism, don't even try. Anyway, every iteration of the agitation idea is right here. Go crazy, young Edison da Vinci's.

[@whoisthisguy724]

No wonder people were so skinny back then, we had to do all that work!

[@iamatgg]

LOL were they serious back then? The vid forgot to mention the most useful manual washing machine called, "pair of legs and body weight".

[@22lrjayden81]

Back when things were made with quality.. now everything breaks in 5 years

[@dsalpha18]

All these are better than the crap they sell on hsn.

[@jenniferdrouin732]

I have a question were the wooden machines. The parts are made of metal why were the tubs not also made of metal?

[@DrDaveBilliards]

Jennifer Drouin ... probably just cost and custom.

[@queenmiski]

Love the machines. But I wish he spoke more clearly. His voice was muffled.

[@zamzammrfixit3113]

come on stop picking on this nice man.. that's the way he speaks.. you must not say bad things about people.. or your next life you will be a skunk

[@gailoftheblackrose]

3:41 one of those are for sale at a thrift store that i live near for $265.oo

[@zamzammrfixit3113]

is it still available ? this is 2018

[@dianacamacho9575]

3:41

[@14egie]

I GOT SO AMNY IDEAS THANKS ITS VERY USEFULL 3:22 IS MY TYPE ONE:

[@anitaloyd9999]

Sharing stories knowledge

[@IzludeTingel]

what kind of washing machine did donald duck fall into in the episode donald and pluto?

[@DrDaveBilliards]

I give up. What was it?

[@kenharris8743]

That would turn me on to see my wife working hard wash my clothes with that machine! LOL

[@garylee9738]

Some of those machines looked downright dangerous.

[@katiemacormic7685]

I wonder if a stand alone composter would work......

[@DrDaveBilliards]

... not if it has compost in it. :)

[@katiemacormic7685]

of course.

[@DrDaveBilliards]

Katie Macormic Sorry for my little joke. Actually, that's a good idea (except it might leak quite a bit).

[@NASIRUB1]

I been washing clothes by hand since 2003 and I have to say it's a pain sometimes, but I notice my arm muscles and hand grip are a lot stronger from squeezing out the water and scrubbing the clothes by hand.

[@changeisreal2450]

Everything was mechanical😂 . They havent yet discovered the power of hydraulics system😂

[@SolarizeYourLife]

This is where the bicycle needs to come into 'play'....most of the machines here need an adapter...and a 'gym'...do your workout and clean your clothes...

[@DrDaveBilliards]

I like the way you think.

[@kimfrankwatson4688]

"male washing machine" this guy is hilarious

[@levert.gomellewis.8306]

August 4 1967

[@flipballer3475]

I went here because of beauty and the beast