Historic Hood River
New Washer
1-3-2014
Notes
This brand new washing machine seems a little pricey for 1948. Perhaps it includes the flowers and vase.
Teaser for my January 8th “Sense of Place” lecture at Springhouse Cellars: Details here.
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
l.e.
I’m thinking that might be a pretty fancy electric washer for the times. It looks much fancier than my mom’s.
Was, "in jig time" a common expression?
charlott
What made it cost more was it has a spin drier feature to it.
dsc
Maytag was still making white gas powered washing machines until 1952 as rural America was becoming "electrified" and the electric washer above gained favor.
The electric washing machine was more convenient to use….no need to mix fuel and oil for the motor, no smell, much quieter operation and the maintenance issues went away.
Rawhyde
Writing from Oaxaca Mexico, I am watching a woman using a machine similar to this (though open-topped) washing linens. Not many appliances made today would last that long…
Arlen Sheldrake
Yes, I remember well Hackett Furniture, grandfather Purl Sheirbon worked for them when he and Della moved in from Odell. Appears this machine also had a "suds saver"; but no wringer?. No clue where the term "jig time" came from but remember it being used. Isn’t that "reddy kilowatt" in the advertisement? Never thought of putting flowers on our washing machine….
l.e.
dsc…..I have used those gas ones, in the remote areas of British Columbia where neither power nor generators had arrived to make life easier. Heated water on the wood stove and then packed it out to the machine in an outside shed.
At 30º below zero, getting clean clothes became even harder.
Buzz
Sounds like fun l.e. In one camp that was built on a barge we used the ultimate "green" machine. String a rope through your clothes and throw them over the side and let a few tides agitate them clean.
dsc
l.e. Two of those old Maytag washing machine motors are still in use. Ruth Blackburn’s 3 wheeler/high wheel trike is powered by a 1928 motor and her "Gorge Girls" surf board is powered by a 1937 Maytag motor….these motors were called "hit-miss" due to the way they ran….pop-pop-pop-pop….
Ruth is now 86 years young and still rides both "creations" at WAAAM, on "Second Saturday" of the month and our 4th of July Parade in Hood River.
Jill Stanford
The phrase "in jig time" started when people were dancing jigs and reels – they were quick and lively and it became the phrase you would use when you wanted something to go fast – hence, a washer that would get your clothes clean quickly. No one uses the phrase any longer except old-timers like me 😉
dsc
Arlen, the machine above would spin the clothes "damp dry" and eliminated the clothes wringer……as we all know, those wringers were dangerous!
I remember my mother bought a Thor Gladiron ‘Mangle iron" about 1952.
It sped up ironing…operated on the same principle as the clothes wringer.
I got pretty good ironing my dress shirts and pants, but you had to be careful not to burn yourself or "toast" a shirt.
Bill P.
Jig Time is no longer politicaly correct. It was associated with African Amercan show dancing i.e. Jigaboo, jiggers etc.
Bill P.
Longshot2
I believe the jig was actually developed in England. Don’t think it had any negative racial conotations. I think it has the same origin as the word jig used in fishing which means to bounce up and down. I seem to remember reading that the British navy had their sailors dance to jig to keep in shape on long sea voyages.
Buzz
Bill P is correct. It was something that pretty well went out of existence before the term "politically correct" came into existence. Today the term "politically correct" has been taken to absurdity in my humble opinion.
Spinsur
Interesting comments on "jig", especially with the reference in the display to "blue monday", which refers to words from a classic blues song, but probably dates to a Gershwin Harlem influenced jazz opera. Now put that in context with the aforementioned cost of the machine, and think about the folks who could afford that then – would many of them had "washer women" of African American heritage?
Buzz
Bill, I have enjoyed your insights from the past, and am sure Charlotte will appreciate your help in putting something together in the spring that both locals and out of towners will enjoy.
Buzz
Thanks l.e. for volunteering to help. Looking forward to a spring day in Hood River.
Bill P.
My pleasure all. To begin with, we will have to develope a mail list of all interested people that can get together to prepare the program plan. How about sending me your e-mal addresses (confidentle) to start with the plannig? Some thoughts that come to mine would be to have a lunch at the Museum with a Q & A to incude Connie, Arthur and Matt to give us the organization and then move on to any number of topics of interest. ( I think we should limit the discussion and Q & A time to one week)
Let me know your thoughts, Bill Pattison pattison@gorge.net
Judy
That " Easy-Spin" washer was produced in the sixties also. When I moved from back East it came to Hood River with me and was a wonderful washing machine. You still had to have rinse tubs, but the spinner basket really eliminated most of the water so that you could hang your clothes outside and they would dry "in jig" time. I used it until the seventies when I got my first automatic washer at Paddock’s.
Kate
I think blue Monday came from the old routine: Monday was washing day, Tuesday was…(I don’t remember)
Housewives had a weekly routine and Monday was always clothes washing day – Not the favorite day because clothes washing was so cumbersome and hard…
I never would have guessed that a machine would have cost that much back then!
Steve
I would have thought the word "blue" referred to laundry bluing used to improve the white in white fabrics.