Front Loading Washing Machine
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The first washing machine was made in 1858 by Hamilton Smith of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (USA). It was operated by turning a crank, at the side, which rotated a set of paddles. Soon another was made that imitated the action of scrubbers on a washboard. However these models were not very satisfactory. The clothes came out of the machine in a torn or tangled up condition.
19th-century Metropolitan washing machine
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A vintage German model
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In 1907 a new model of a washing machine was invented. It was the first electric washing machine and was fairly effective in cleaning the clothes. Soon several models began to be introduced by 1912 and these were all electrically powered.
Arctic BE1200A+, a budget model with 6 kg load, LCD indicator, 1200 RPM
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The earliest washing machine tubs were made of wood. The newer models were made of copper, galvanized steel, aluminium and zinc. By 1961 they began to make them of porcelain enamel so that they could resist strong soap detergents and temperatures of water. These days they are also made of strong plastic.
Commercial washing machines in a self-service Laundromat
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By 1922 the washing machine was improved further by installing an agitator in it. The machine was still semi-automatic. By 1937 the fully automatic washing machines were introduced. They can be left to the whole wash by themselves. They are controlled electronically.
The user punches a set of buttons from a range of programs so that the machine hot-washes cotton clothes or cool-washes woolens. It sets the temperature of the water, as well as the time of rinse. There are also machines, which have the tumble drier to dry out the clothes. Clothes washing have become a highly "electronic" task today.
