A Minor Gripe

[poliphilo]

The worst thing about washing clothes by hand is not having a spin-cycle. What I need right now- and I doubt if you can buy them (except in junk shops)- is a mangle.  

Comments

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

I don't think I have ever seen a free-standing wringer, like the one pictured at Wiki. My paternal grandmother was still using a wringer washing machine as late as the 70s. Her daughter had bought her a new machine, but she didn't like it.

Back in the 30s, I am told my great-grandmother had a gasoline-powered washer, mounted on large rubber tires, so it could be rolled down to the creek on wash day.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've been looking at antique mangles on eBay. The going rate round here seems to be c.£50- only no-one is bidding on them.

[petercampbell.livejournal.com]

I thought mangles were the in thing for shabby chic decor these days. Not to use, mind you, just as an attractive object. We had one when I was younger, along with the overhead pulley and the double belfast sink.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

One of the ones I was looking at on eBay was advertised as having potential as a garden ornament

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

Overhead pulleys are stil around - it's just that most people these days haven't got big enough kitchens or sufficient ventilation, or both, so the washing tends to smell of whtever was last cooked

[michaleen.livejournal.com]

If you found one in a brick-and-mortar shop, I suspect you might pay considerably less. Here, the economic downturn has hit the antiques business rather hard and I assume its the same over there. We recently paid $250 for a high-back oak bed that would have easily sold for over $600 just three-years ago.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

You're probably right. I thought of going and having a look in our local junk shop, but decided that, actually, I already own too many cumbersome semi-antiques.