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Lutz
Salesman Sample Washing Machine We
bought this antique salesman sample washing machine at the Atlantic City Antique
Show a while back, an antique show which we use to do. It is in near mint
condition and was a welcome addition to the collection. It is interesting
to note just how many different versions / variations of these salesman samples
and patent models of washing machines and other laundry devices that there are.
There must have been a very strong market after the Civil War and into the turn
of the last century for so many to have been made and to have survived.
It would make one wonder just what the early housewife used to do before these
marvels were introduced, and not wonder at all at how she must have rejoiced
when Maytag came on the scene with its new- fangled approach to this age old
problem!
Good + . . . . . $1750.00 SOLD
Primitive Washing Machine Patent
Model / Salesman Sample
There
is no patent tag with this one, but there is little doubt in my mind what it
is or was intended as. And as with many patent models from this era and
their inventors, this fellow had a lot of time, energy, and imagination but
came up a bit short in the common sense design division. The action is
great---turn the main wheel on the outside and once you get it going what you
have is one of the noisiest up and down and back and forth rocking contraptions
ever imagined. All at once you would have a large corrugated laundry pounder
scrubbing and pounding the cloth clean on the end of the large articulated
arm, while just behind that, going up and down at the same time, was the suds-making
agitator / plunger. And to top it off, the tub is rocked back and forth
and up and down by another mechanical arm which operated from underneath at
the same time. This fellow's friends and advisors for this project must
have been real dreamers or worse, as it is such a wildly stupid idea that it
never had a hope of getting into production, much less into the wife's laundry
room. Give me a Maytag she said!
Good + . . . . . $2495.00 SOLD
Queen Washer . . . . Left . . . Good + . . . . . $1295.00
SOLD Toy Washer . . . . .Good + . . . . . $275.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $1295.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $695.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $1495.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $1595.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $495.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $1295.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $695.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $795.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $495.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $295.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $375.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $395.00
SOLD Good + . . . . . $1495.00
SOLD JM-WWASH-1 Very Good......$1095.00
SOLD! Good + . . . . . $795.00
SOLD Good . . . . . $795.00
SOLD This is just a sample of the many
antiques we have sold. Click link to see other
Sales Archive Pages on this Site.
We can help you sell quality Antiques
Contact Us. For further info on consigning / selling your antiques
with us please see our FAQ page,
the
Appraisal / Selling Page and the
Selling
Your Collection Pages. Our current offering of
Antiques for sale are at our sister Website Patented-Antiques.com.
This website is Copyrighted
The Queen Salesman Sample Washing
Machine It is very exciting when you get a super
original piece like the washer on the left in condition
this nice. They are rarely seen and even more rarely offered for sale,
but we just got this wonderful piece this spring. The detail and execution
are superb, and the removable agitator in the center was certain to have been
a prime selling feature when the traveling salesman was displaying this device
to the new potential customer. I am going to show you another picture
of a similar washer, on the
right, that is basically the same size and design, but when looked at side by
side it is easy to see why one would be excited by this and also graphically
demonstrates the differences between what I consider a toy, and the overall
value and beauty in a true salesman sample. Both are nice, but I paid
8 times the amount for the one on the left that I did for the second one.
The
Kooks Washer This particular
example is unmarked and may even have been made as a toy, but given the degree
of detail and the quality of workmanship I am going to call it a salesman sample.
I saw a similar one offered on eBay awhile back that someone had put something
that looked like a stove pipe cover in the top and since the writing was in
German and it was a bit rusty nobody could tell exactly what it said.
We acquired this washer at a meeting / show aimed at Kitchen Collectibles put
on by the club known as Kooks.
Salesman
Sample Tiger Eye Maple & Mahogany Washing Machine
I am not sure exactly why this super model
of a washing machine was made. It is a bit larger than most patent
models at 14" long, but I have seen oversized ones before, so...... Or
perhaps it was just the inventors working model as he was designing his invention
and preparing to make the larger version. It does not have the look or
feel of a toy, so the final possibility is that it is a salesman sample of a
full size model that was produced back when by the inventor in preparation of
the marketing phase of his endeavor, when salesmen would carry a model from
town to town trying to interest the buyers in the general stores, or just the
general public. I have seen an identical one in much lesser condition
with the end stamped "Patent Pending By J. Potts & Sons" and can not explain
why this one that is in near mint condition would be unmarked. The choices
of fine woods and the use of birds-eye maple for all of the supports,
legs and mechanical arms certainly give it a flair and sense that it would not
have had with the use of lesser soft woods. The mahogany body has
the look and feel that many of the patent models from the mid to late 1800's
had. It has great action as well, allowing for both back and forth and
up and down at the same time of the moveable portions. It also has a provision
for the water to go through the slats in the bottom to further agitate and suds
up the water for the perfect washing effect. All in all a very advanced
design and undoubtedly constructed with pride and a greater sense. It
was sure to have impressed those it was shown to back then as well as those
who get to view it today.
Antique
Salesman Sample of a Wash Tub / Wringer Bench
This antique salesman
sample washstand / wringer has incredible eye appeal
That is a quarter in the picture to give you a sense of the scale of this diminutive
piece of Americana. Amazingly constructed to look just like the real thing,
this small size laundry bench would have sat as a display on the store countertop
or in the general store window, or they were carried around door-to-door by
the salesman to show the prospective buyer exactly what the full-size bench
would look like. All of course with the intention to convince them to
buy one. Take a look at all the details and at the super condition of
the stenciling and lettering. Note how it folds up and extends out, just
like the real one. Included with this antique sample are the two little
galvanized wash tubs you see in the photos as well as the sample-size new old
stock package of Gold Dust washing powder. This is a super piece of early
Americana!
Antique
E. Gately & Co. Salesman Sample of a Wash Tub / Wringer Bench
To give you a sense of the scale of this
diminutive piece of Americana there is a clear ruler at the base in the foreground.
Amazingly constructed to look just like the real full size wash stand / wringer,
this miniature size laundry bench would have sat as a display on the store countertop
or in the general store window, or would have been carried around door-to-door
by the salesman to show the prospective buyer exactly what the full-size bench
would look like.
Take a look at all the details
and at the nice condition of the stenciling and lettering. This example
is by the E. Gately Co. of Boston. From the side we can see that it was
called the Folding Mascott Wringer / Bench. I believe they were
predecessors of the Anchor Horseshoe company who were the leaders in the field
of wringers and wash stands during the late 19th century and later. I
have seen this same style sample with their name and logos several times, but
his is the first I have ever seen by Gately.
Note how it folds up and extends
out on both sides just like the real ones you can find. The wringer portion
still works and it is marked at the top that this is a model of the # B size
wringer. Note also the neat heart shaped thumbscrews on top of the wringer.
The one apology is a sliver of wood missing on the top right hand side.
This is a super piece of early Americana and they make for great displays in
special settings, or with special miniatures displayed on or near them!
A. H. Calkins July 15, 1876 Patent
Model of Washing Machine This well-constructed
and interested model is made of mahogany and illustrates Mr. Calkins' idea for
an improvement on the typical wringer device commonly seen over the wash bucket.
His idea incorporates a spring loaded roller affair overtop of the fluted main
roller, which I assume the lady of the house would run the dirty wet clothes
through to loosen up the dirt. Oftentimes models like this are considered
to be incomplete, but the fact is that only that part of the invention for which
the patent was being drawn was usually submitted. It is not improper that
the wash bucket and holder for this device are not present. The remains
of the original receiving tag are here and there is writing on the cross bar
identifying it as well. There is a second set of rollers included that
I believe are just a replacement for the set that are in place. There
is no provision for both to be incorporated or used at the same time.
1878
Patent Model of Washing Machine Here
is another patent model that dramatically shows where America was 125 years
ago, and that was out in the laundry Room doing the chores, certainly not sitting
in front of a computer or the tube. We have about a dozen or so of these
models of our own, and we have seen dozens of others that were designed and
submitted during this expansive time in America's history. I find it amazing
that life was so simplistic, and yet as evidenced by this model, and all the
other inventions of the day, just how complicated and thoughtful these fellows
were about making improvements in the lives of their fellow man. I look
at these models and the statements they make from a hundred years ago, and it
just seems so different and remote from the types of things that we are exposed
to today. What model mouse are they selling this year, or what is the
latest in toothbrush technology? This model was done by a Mr. J. F. Pond
of Cleveland Ohio. What looks to be a rather simplistic and boring mangle
style washer is in reality a quite complicated and interesting invention.
Not only are there 2 bottom rollers instead of the typical one, they are suspended
and floating, being held in place by the 4 springs that you can see at the edges.
They have the ability to rock and oscillate as Mr. Pond put it, and even more
important, and this is what it seems the patent is actually for, Mr. Pond has
incorporated a clutch mechanism into the design that is activated by hitting
the lever that the crank goes through. I wonder if they just granted this
one, or if they asked Pond why he felt it needed a clutch? This is all
explained on the small tag that is included and is in one piece, but has a crease,
and the original tag is here also but it is in two pieces, but still readable.
Different / One of a Kind, and there isn't another one out there, so stop looking!
Feb. 24th 1879 Patent Model of
Washing Machine & Tub by W. K. Taylor
This is a very nice looking Patent Model. Research has shown that what
we really have here is a marriage of an original tagged Patent Model and a replaced
wringer mechanism. This model carries not only its original patent tags
with the pink ribbon, but also the receiving tag on the side of the tub that
authenticates that his is the original model that was submitted to the patent
office for this new and wonderful idea back in 1875. The bad news
is the the wringer portion of this model must have been lost sometime in the
past and that the one now attached to the tub is a later replacement that although
similar to the drawings does not match them. I bought this model
at auction this way, and that is the way it is going to be sold, a good representation,
but not the complete original model that matches the drawings.
Salesman
Sample / Patent Model or Toy Wooden Washing Machine Over
the years I have owned and sold dozens of toy child
size washers, including a number of Patent model washers. I have had ones
very similar to this example, but never this exact same configuration.
It has a few differences which lead me to believe it is a model or salesman
sample rather than just a toy.
The first difference is the quality
of the hinges and fittings. They are castings rather than just stamped
steel or plain brass hinges. It is the same for the way the base was made.
The typical model has little fittings the legs slide into, not this removable
triangular base with cast metal corners. The top gear mechanism is also
different and more detailed than the more typical and common toy washers you
do see. It to has cast parts.
Looking inside another difference
I see is the set-up for the agitator. The typical toy has only four pegs
while this one has 6. And lastly is the way the inside and bottom are
machined with ridges just like a full size washer would have been. And
probably a feature not called for in a toy. An interesting note is that
there is evidence of this having been tested and used with soap residue in the
cracks.
Ok, now with all of that being
said I believe this is either a patent model, or a salesman sample as opposed
to a toy. I can not prove that, but it is just too nice, and too detailed
to be just a toy. Very Nice, and a super display piece!!
Child-Size Mechanical "KiddieWasher"
This great little washer, complete with
its wringer, is marked pat applied for. Standing about 14" tall it undoubtedly
was meant to teach a child to launder her doll clothes. Wind it up and
the tub agitates back and forth in its stand to a rhythm reminiscent of a cradle
rocking to a lullaby!
Child's
"Excelsior" Washer / Wringer/ Washboard If you like the look of country antiques with original
paint, this great toy washing set is sure to fit the bill. Certainly the
child that it belonged to must have thought herself quite grown-up and helpful
using the same type of laundry devices as her Mom. The set consists of
a folding wooden box, with original red paint and decorative black stenciling,
which opens up to make into the wash tub and bench. Then it serves to
store all the pieces inside when it is in the closed-up position. The
tub itself is country-blue painted corrugated tin, which matches the tin on
the accompanying little wooden washboard / scrub board. The wooden wringer
has dowels on the bottom of the legs to set into the "bench" part and stand
upright for use. This piece is simply yet thoughtfully constructed and
has a really nice early country look. When opened up the tub and bench
measure about 16 1/2" wide x 9" deep x 2 1/2" high. The washboard
is about 7 1/2" tall and the wringer is just under 7" tall. It appears
that the tub / bench unit originally had 4 removable round wooden "legs" which
could have been inserted to stand it up a few inches off the table. These
have gotten separated from the piece over the years, but could easily be replicated
by using plain wooden dowels. The overall condition is very good with
minor scuffs to the paint here and there and a little bit of surface corrosion
on the tin parts. The set makes for a nice display to compliment a variety
of antique collections.
Toy
or Salesman Sample Wood Barrel Washing Machine This washing machine is a hard call as to whether
it is a toy or a salesman sample. I had another version that is the same
shape, basic size and basic design, but it had much more detail and there is
information stenciled on it about the manufacturer and location. It is
called the Queen. This model has some very specific details, ie. the brackets
to hold the feet are nearly identical, but no name or other information and
it is not the same overall quality by any means. Perhaps this can be explained
by just different levels of quality in the actual product, and perhaps the Queen
salesman also carried one of these around to show how inferior the competitions
product was to theirs, much like the Kirby vacuum guy does today. In any
case, this is in nice condition and shows some great patina and age to its old
crusty surface.
Round
Wooden Toy Columbia Washer When do you ever see
these realistic and detailed mechanical toy washers anymore? This example came out of a large collection of ironing and
laundry-related antiques that we purchased a few years ago. There
were several versions of the Columbia washer, this being the model with
the round barrel-design tub. Although many people refer to it
as a salesman sample because it is so realistic, well-made, and almost
replicates the style and design of many popular washing machines of the
day, I believe that this was made as a toy and not a salesman sample.
Perhaps they were used as displays in shops, but I doubt this was
actually carried around as a sample by a salesman. In any case, it
has great mechanical action with a horizontal and a vertical geared
wheel on top operated by a lever which turns a 4-prong agitator inside
the corrugated tub. The back and forth action of the gearing turns
the agitator first clockwise, then counter-clockwise, etc. The tub
has a diameter of about 11" and it stands just 11" from the bottom of
the legs to the top of the barrel, not including the wheel. In
practice it probably did the job of cleaning Dolly's clothes just as
well as Mom's full-size one did for the family laundry!
1862 Patent Model of Washing Machine by
John Phelps This idea for a washing machine was pretty involved
and as noted by the design of the cabriole style legs probably not an
idea that was developed out in the backcountry. Pre Civil War patent
models are harder to come buy than some of the later ones and so this
example is kind of special. I have not pulled the papers to read up on
all of ideas this fellow had or where he was from, but I would bet that
the furniture in his house had similar designed feet. (
Note
that two of the feet do have some damage.) This model has more moving
parts than many similar ones do, and has one great idea that many lesser
designs never dealt with. Note at the bottom the rod that runs from the
center to the outside leg with what appears to be a doughnut on it.
This was meant to allow the entire rocker device in the center to ride
up and down, and to be kind of spring loaded if you will to generate
more action as the rocker moved over the clothes during operation. As
can be seen in the pics the stepped washboards on the two ends were
removable for either cleaning, or more likely for a genteel wash when
the dainties were done. There is a different design handle on each side
allowing you a range of choices depending on what part of your body you
were looking to work out on that early Monday morning as well..
In any case this piece is in very nice condition and
measures approx 8" x 11". It has its original tag, as well as the
receiving tag, and a small brass plaque with the inventors name on it as
well. This model will make a super piece to add to the collection or to
the display of important laundry related devices.
Salesman Sample "The Three Minute Kind / Wonder Washer" Washing Machine
This antique salesman sample washing machine is a wonderful piece of
Americana and a graphic look back into the way it use to be. Just look
at the new designs of Washing machines offered today and think what your Granny was faced with.
This washer has a look and presence to it with its colorful litho decorations that
many of the other sample size washers simply do not have. I have seen
several full size versions of this washer and all were very plain and with
just a simple name "Wonder" stenciled onto the sides.
The sample size washing machine stands approx 16" tall w/ the stand, and is
12" square.
It is the first one like it that I have seen or had, and I have had a lot of
these sample size washers over the years. It is very similar in design to "The Dewey
Washer", a washing machine I had a sample size of and sold a few years back.
It is possible that the two companies were related in some way, with one
buying out the other or trying a new advertising approach, or ........... I saw that
sample size Dewey washer being appraised by Noel Barrett on the Antiques Roadshow
a while back with the new owner making like she had just walked up on it at
a garage sale or flea market, implying she gotten it for a song. I wondered
if it was staged or .......... That example was nice, but it had almost no decoration other than the name
Dewey, and it was not nearly as
impressive looking as this one. It was appraised on the Roadshow for about
what
I am offering this one for.
The printed patent info of Jan 2 1904 on the label is wrong. It was actually patented on
January 26th 1904
, and that date it
is a good match. The inventor's name was Elmer Victor Allen, and hence
the Victor Mfg. Co. name. He actually hailed from Hiawatha, KS. which I bet was pretty close to Leavenworth. I could find nothing
related to that name or a similar washer for the second date marked on the
label. That
could be explained any number of different ways and a bit more research
would probably turn that patent up as well.
The inside of the washer, and the agitator are set up just like the patent
pictures,
and it is clear that either the salesman, or his children, gave this washer a
few test runs.
Take a look at all the details
and construction of this washer. The tin tub lifts off of the stand whose turned legs
are finished
in old red paint and has X'd metal cross braces to help make it rigid.
There is one apology at this point where the inside of one of the legs is
chipped. It does not affect the way the tub sits in the stand, and would be
a pretty simple and straight forward fix, but it is there. The top has a lot
of original reddish brown finish remaining as well.
The applied litho /decal on two sides is really special. One side is better than the
other, and the good side is about 90% very nice, and has good color.
The other side is mostly there, but faded a bit, and there is some pencil
marks throughout from a child no doubt being a child. It
has all the information on it that anyone could need, but by far the best
part is the way they did the name Wonder Washer using the W & R for both
words, and then filling in the middle w/ the slogan "The Three Minute Kind"
implying there a 10 or 20 minute model before this one and that this is the
"New" improved model.
A Great Piece!
1871
Patent Model of Washboard This idea for a washboard was
granted to H. H. Bellows on May 30th 1871. His better idea for this
washday necessity in the late 1800's was to make the scrub face not only
corrugated, but to have a "wave or convex / concave surface with a flat
valley thus obtaining a more forcible friction." Or so he states in his
write-up. It is funny and interesting to note that by this period of
time there were many other far more "advanced" ideas for washers being
promoted, and that this idea seems to be a bit dated or backward, but
then I suppose that I or we do not really know exactly what it was like
living out in the woods or in the country back then, and just how far
out of touch that last ten miles may have put you with news about the
latest developments in washer technology. As an example where I live
the local paper here was just recently touting the the introduction of
the coming of electricity here.
1860
Patent Model of Yellow-ware / Bennington / Rockingham Washboard Here is a great example of a wonderful and graphic Patent Model of a
Washboard. You never see the full size ones and I guarantee you
will never see this one again as it is a one of.
(1998 -
2009)
Larry & Carole Meeker