Graves family washing machine, c. 1915

Graves family washing machine, c. 1915

Williamsburg (Mass.); Graves, Joseph Strong, 1853-1920; Graves, Joseph Edwin, 1892-1969; Graves; Ruth Elizabeth, 1896-1979; Graves, Rachael Matilda, 1898-2000; Graves, Dwight Lincoln, 1902-1994; Washing machines

This snapshot by a member of the Joseph Strong Graves family shows a home-made, gasoline-powered outdoor precursor of the modern clothes washer. It was likely devised as a present to the women of the household by eldest son J. Edwin Graves, standing at left. He was known locally as an ingenious inventor and mechanic. His sister Ruth is at right, and youngest brother John is at center. The gasoline engine at left, mounted on a hand truck for portability, drives a belt or chain that turns a crank mounted on the sawhorse at center, which in turn drives an agitator in the washtub at right. Compact it isn't, but it probably saved a lot of back-breaking hand cranking during the warm weather. And when there wasn't wash to do, the engine was used to power other machinery on the farm. The photograph measures 2.75 x 4.5 inches.

Photograph by an unknown member of the Graves family

C/WMARS, Inc. http://www.cwmars.org/

c. 1915

Permission to publish the image must be obtained from the Williamsburg Historical Society by writing to ddarienzo@cwmars.org or Meekins@cwmars.org. The Williamsburg Historical Society, Williamsburg, Mass., must be credited as the original source of the item for all use.

Part of the Williamsburg, Mass. Historical Society, Graves Farm Photograph Collection.

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Williamsburg Historical Society--Graves Farm Photograph Collection--WHS717 Powered washing machine