manual washing machines & treadle sewing machines

[solan]

Often available on ebay.
You can leave clothes to soak overnight in a manually operated washing machine if you don't fancy turning the handle back and forth three hundred times. They sometimes come with an attached mangle to help with rinsing, and have a tap at the side of the tub to drain out the used water. The aforementioned handle is attached to a big swirly shaped piece of metal that stirs the clothes around.
Singer hands-free treadle sewing machines have their own unofficial fan club. They have attachments for hemming, gathering, and loads of other stuff.
Also, get a piano, great for annoying the neighbours while you're learning, and even better for proper carol singing at Christmas.
Another afterthought, we used a turn the handle rotary whisk for making Angel Delight pudding when we were kids, and it would help with cake making too, which is what it was designed for.
Any-one use a carpet sweeper? There were loads of labour saving inventions coming onto the market just before oil and electricity got cheap. They were often built to last a lifetime, or two.

[caveman]

That reminds me. I had a quarter baked idea for a washing machine. I live in the windy west of Ireland and often thought of machines that are directly wind powered. By that I mean belts or shafts from the windmill connected directly to the job. The first idea was a workshop where all the machines are driven from a "line shaft". This is how early workshops were arranged. I like the idea of having to use the workshop when the energy is available and not just when it suits me. The second was a washing machine. Imagine a small shed with a tower and windmill. The windmill would probably be a sail mill, like the ones in Crete. These start in a breeze, turn with substantial force but not very fast. A shaft runs down through the tower and into the shed. Some minor details need to be sorted out such as how it would work, but the idea would mean that the clothes soak in a tub until the wind blows and then it runs, washing the clothes. A 1400rpm spin and a “delicates” programme are unlikely to be features on the early models. A similar idea turned large pieces of wood into chipped firewood, again the plan is a little light on detail at the moment.

[solan]

wow. That sounds good. Don't forget to alternate the direction of turn or your socks will tie themselves to your jumper sleeves. And don't forget you've left them in there and then wonder what's that smell. I write purely from experience.

[jfisherbear]

did someone ever make a treadle washing machine?

[cye]

No, but I know someone who could. Tools for Solidarity in Belfast restore treadle sewing machines for 3rd world countries. As many of the older machines have been motorised and lost their treadles, they've developed their own design of easily fabricated treadle. I'm quite sure a washer would be well within their capability.