Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Fort Wayne, IN: Horton Washing Machines

(3D Satellite)

But Newton, IA became the "washing machine capital of the world.

Kenneth Childers posted eleven images.
Emil Indrecc Then they made 40mm shells during ww2.
Photo from Kenneth Childers' posting
The above looks primitive until you see pictures of the earlier models. And in the 1800s, manufacturing companies didn't always make just one product. Here we see they also made hand corn planters.

Photo from Kenneth Childers' posting
Greg Michell commented on Kenneth's posting
4 Nov 1923 Ad from Journal Gazette
[If you save the image from the Facebook posting and look at it in full resolution, it is readable.]
ACGSE Pinterest
1890 ad for modern washing machine from Horton Manufacturing Company Fort Wayne, Indiana from Time Travelers - come back in time on Facebook.
[This is a reminder that factories were still using line shafts (water or steam powered) because small electric motors had yet to be developed.]
Becky Osbun posted
"Can be operated by hand in event of power failure"! 😏 Horton Manufacturing Company, Fort Wayne, 1882-1953. - ACPL Community Album
Craig Leonard It was actually an existing business that was started in Bluffton by Dr Theodore Horton. A group of Ft Wayne investors bought it in 1882 and moved it to Ft Wayne.
Russell Rider Built on Osage Street, near the late lamented Nebraska School.

John Claus Peters not only help found Horton, he had other businesses in Fort Wayne including the Indiana Road Machine Co.

Pamela S. Bonner Dunn posted
[Actually, 71. This is what I remember my Grandmother and Mother-in-law had. I think the lever on top reversed the direction of the rollers. If you got something too thick in the ringer, you had to back it out. I think the blue bar is the emergency stop. Some of the comments are about people remembering they got their arm caught in the wringer as a kid.]
Leslie Wachel Kofron My Auntie Rosie had one. But now that I am looking at it, how did the clothing get rinsed of the detergent?
Donna Martin Leslie Wachel Kofron You wrung it out into a sink of water. Swoosh around, then wring again into a 2nd sink,then wring out again to hang outside.
Leslie Wachel Kofron Donna Martin thank you! I didn’t watch what my Aunt did after she put it through the wringer the first time. So she put it through the wringer 3 times? Then hung it outside to dry?
Donna Martin Leslie Wachel Kofron Some people only rinsed once.I was taught twice. Yep,and then the hanging!
[When we bought our 1920s house in 1976, a double tub was still in the basement. The wringer can be turned on the top of its "post." The machine would be in front of the right-side tub. Turn it 90-degrees, and the winger is between the two tubs. Turn it another 90-degrees, and it is between the left-hand tub and a laundry basket you place next to the washing machine.
You would fill up everything with water, and use the same water for all of the loads. You started with the "delicates" and ended with the dirtiest overalls, etc.
Now with have a high-efficiency washer, and I miss being able to pour the clothes from the laundry basket into the old agitator washer. Now we have to carefully pile the clothes one handful at a time around the edge.]



1 comment:

  1. I'm looking for the decal that belongs on the No. 32 washer machine. Does any one know where I can buy one. If so you can email me at wendylouwho42@aol.com, My friend bought me a washer machine for my Christmas present and it needs a little work and unfortunately it is missing the decal. Thanks for all the help.

    Wendy

    ReplyDelete