# Old-Timey Laundry (DD-507)

> Wringer washers, sold by retailers such as Montgomery Ward in the early to mid-20th century, combined a tub agitated by a hand crank or electric motor with a wringer: two rollers that pressed water out of clothes before they were hung to dry. They were common in homes before automatic washers with spin cycles took over. The footage, credited to technology, shows a vintage wringer washer.

- Department: Tech (also History)
- First published: 2025-03-07
- Last updated: 2025-03-07
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/old-timey-laundry-ii/
- Original Reel title: Old Timey Laundry
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## Quick facts

- **DD-507-F01**: Early to mid-1900s. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Era))_
- **DD-507-F02**: Montgomery Ward, among others. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (Seller))_

## Write-up

Before automatic washers, laundry went through a wringer. Two rollers squeezed the water out.

1. **Era**: Early to mid-1900s.
2. **Seller**: Montgomery Ward, among others.
3. **Power**: Crank or motor.
4. **Wringer**: Two rollers.
5. **Replaced by**: Automatic washers.

## Related case files

- [Old-Timey Laundry (DD-402)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/old-timey-laundry/): I linked the first part

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: None needed.

## Video: Old-Timey Laundry: Before Automatic Washers, Laundry Went Through a Wringer

- Duration: 20.7 s · Published: 2025-03-07
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DG5y6tWxDgt.mp4

### Transcript

Did you know? The Montgomery Ward wringer washer was a popular manual or semi-automatic washing machine sold in the early to mid-20th century, designed for home laundry before the rise of modern automatic washers. These machines featured a large tub for washing clothes, often powered by a hand crank or an electric motor, and a wringer mechanism with two rollers to squeeze excess water from fabric before drying. NOW YOU KNOW!

## Questions & answers

**Q: What squeezes water out?**  
A: Wringer. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Era) · Wikipedia: Wringer)_

**Q: Power?**  
A: Manual. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Seller) · Wikipedia: Montgomery Ward)_

**Q: A seller?**  
A: Retailer. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Power) · Wikipedia: Wringer)_

**Q: Era?**  
A: 20th century. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Wringer) · Wikipedia: Wringer)_

**Q: Replaced by?**  
A: Spin cycle. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Replaced by) · Wikipedia: Wringer)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Wringer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wringer)
- [Wikipedia: Montgomery Ward](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Ward)

## Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Old-Timey Laundry." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-507, last updated Mar 7, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/old-timey-laundry-ii/