Technology Timeline

By ibilolab

  • The first English patent under the category of Washing and Wringing Machines

  • Jacob Christian Schäffer's washing machine design was published in 1767.

  • a patented "compound rotary washing machine, with rollers for wringing or mangling" was shown at the 1862 London Exhibition, done by Richard Lansdale of Pendleton, Mancheste

  • Electric washing machines were advertised and discussed in newspapers as early as 1904

  • US electric washing machine sales reached 913,000 units in 1928

  • The first laundromat opened in Fort Worth, Texas in 1934

  • By 1940, 60% of the 25,000,000 wired homes in the United States had an electric washing machine. Many of these machines featured a power wringer, although built-in spin dryers were not uncommon.

  • General Electric also introduced its first top loading automatic model in 1947. This machine had many of the features that are incorporated into modern machines.

  • 2000 washing machine

    In 1994, Staber Industries released the System 2000 washing machine, which is the only top loading, horizontal-axis washer to be manufactured in the United States. The hexagonal tub spins like a front loading machine, only using about third of the water as conventional top-loaders.

  • calypso

    In 2001, Whirlpool Corporation introduced the Calypso, the first vertical-axis high efficiency washing machine to be top-loading. A washplate in the bottom of the tub nutated to bounce, shake, and toss the laundry around

  • University of leads washing machine

    In 2008, the University of Leeds created a washing machine that uses only a cup (about 0.5 imperial pints (280 ml)) of water to carry out a full wash. The machine leaves clothes virtually dry, and uses less than 2 per cent of the water and energy otherwise used by a conventional machine. As such, it could save billions of litres of water each year.