Before the 20th century, ironing was hot, exhausting and dangerous, and therefore a dreaded chore. As with other housework ironing was usually done by women, whether by maids or by wives or daughters of a household. During laundering, a proper mangle was sometimes used to partially smooth and flatten items to reduce the need for ironing. […]
Like most pieces of iron machinery made in the nineteenth century, this ‘Ewbank Jewel’ laundry mangle was built to last. And last it did, now as solid and sturdy as the day it left the Entwhistle & Kenyon factory in Lancashire, England, sometime after 1875. Mangles were used to quickly flatten sheets, towels and tablecloths, […]
The introduction of electricity into the home created a boom in labour saving devices. From the start of the twentieth century, these devices were marketed strongly towards women, who did the majority of work in the home. Electric washing machines, like the machine shown here, along with vacuums, hair dryers and clothing irons all entered […]
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