IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Fyfe, of Shipley, near Bradford, in the County
of York, Lime and Coal Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WASHING MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Leander Becker and
S. M. Smith, of York, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Fyfe at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th June 1876.
WILLIAM FYFE, of Shipley, near Bradford, in the County of York, Lime and
Coal Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to improvements in washing machines, which are simpler
and cheaper in construction, and whereby the washing or cleansing of dirty or soiled
clothes or linen or other like articles is effected in a more easy and rapid manner
than hitherto.
And these improvements consist, firstly, in constructing a machine or apparatus
formed of a wooden vessel or washing box of any required size and form, by pre-
ference oblong. The washing box is supported on wooden legs, so as to be raised
the required height from the ground. The top of the washing box is partly fitted
with a lid working on hinges for placing and removing the fabrics or clothes. In
the interior and on the sides of the washing box are fixed metal brackets, by pre-
ference made of galvanized iron. On these brackets are formed curved arms
having a series of openings for the purpose of placing the bearers of a wooden
rubbing board; the openings allow of placing the rubbing board near to or away
from the beater, according to the quantity of clothes or linen to be washed. The
rubbing board is formed with grooves and openings for the passage of the water
and suds. On the ends of the brackets are fitted moveable arms, to which are fixed
brackets, and on which is screwed or bolted a wooden beater, which has a backward
and forward or rocking movement, which is communicated by means of a connecting
rod fitted to the beater, and actuated by a crank formed on a shaft passing through
the washing box. This crank is worked by a pinion fitted on the shaft, which is
actuated by a spur wheel fitted on a shaft working in bearers fitted on the top of
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page_text: the washing box. On one end of this shaft is fitted a handle for working the
machine, or a pulley may be fitted on the shaft to work the machine by power,
and on one end of the crank shaft is fitted a fly wheel. The beater is made with
grooves and openings.
Secondly. In constructing a machine or apparatus for washing, formed with a
similarly constructed wooden vessel or washing box to that herein-before described.
In the inside of the washing box and on the sides are fitted studs, on which work
rocking levers; on the lower ends of these levers are fitted brackets, on which is
fixed a metal rubbing plate, by preference of galvanized iron. This rubbing plate
is made with grooves and openings for the passage of the water and suds; the
brackets slide on wooden rails fitted in the bottom of the washing box. On the
tops of the rocking levers are fitted bent arms, to which is fastened a metal beater
made with knuckles and with openings; the bearers of the beater slide on the rails.
A rod is fitted between the top ends of the rocking levers, to which is fitted a con-
necting rod, which is worked by a crank formed on a shaft fitted outside the
washing box. This crank is actuated by gear in a similar manner to that herein-
before described.
The beater and rubbing plate have a forward and backward motion, pressing and
squeezing the clothes or fabrics till they are perfectly cleaned.
On the top of the washing machines are fitted wringing apparatus, and in the
inside of the washing boxes are fixed inclined pieces of wood, forming recesses to
receive the water and suds from the clothes or linen passed through the wringing
machines.
The action of the beaters and rubbing boards produce a rotary motion of the
clothes or fabrics during the progress of washing, thereby pressing, rubbing, and
squeezing until the clothes or linen are perfectly cleaned.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Fyfe in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th December
1876.
WILLIAM FYFE, of Shipley, near Bradford, in the County of York, Lime and Coal
Merchant. IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING MACHINES." A communication from
abroad by Leander Becker and S. M. Smith, of York, Pennsylvania, United States
of America.
The said Invention relates to improvements in washing machines, which are
simple and cheap of construction, and whereby the washing or cleansing of dirty or
soiled clothes or linen or other like articles is effected in a more easy and rapid
manner than hitherto.
And these improvements, consist, firstly, in constructing a machine or apparatus
formed of a wooden vessel or washing box of any required size and form, by preference
oblong. The washing box is supported on iron or wooden legs, so as to be raised
the required height from the ground. The top of the washing box is partly fitted
with a lid working on hinges to allow of placing and removing the clothes or
fabrics. In the interior and on the sides of the washing box are fitted metal
brackets, by preference made of galvanized iron. On these brackets are formed
curved arms, having a series of openings for the purpose of placing the bearers of a
wooden rubbing board; the openings allow of placing the rubbing board nearer to
or away from the beater, according to the quantity of clothes or linen to be washed.
The rubbing board is formed with grooves and openings for the passage of the
water and suds. On the ends of the brackets are fitted moveable arms, to which
are fixed brackets, and on which is screwed or bolted a wooden beater, which has a
backward and forward or rocking movement communicated by means of a con-
pecting rod fitted to the beater, and actuated by a crank formed on a shaft passing

page_text: 1119
crank is worked by a pinion fitted on the shaft,
which is actuated by a spur wheel fitted on a shaft working in bearers fitted on the
top of the washing box. On one end of this shaft is fitted a handle, by which to
work the machine, or a pulley may be fitted on the shaft to work the machine by
power, and on one end of the crank shaft is fitted a fly wheel. The beater is made
with grooves and openings.
Secondly. In constructing a machine or apparatus for washing, formed with a
similarly constructed wooden vessel or washing box to that herein-before described.
In the inside of the washing box and on the sides are fixed studs, on which work
rocking lovers; on the lower ends of these levers are fitted brackets, on which is
fixed a metal rubbing plate, by preference of galvanized iron. This rubbing plate
is made with grooves and openings for the passage of the water and suds; the
brackets slide on wooden rails fitted in the bottom of the washing box. On the
tops of the rocking levers are fitted bent arms, to which is fastened a metal beater
made with knuckles and with openings. The bearers of the beater slide on the rails.
A rod is fitted between the top ends of the rocking levers, to which is fitted a
connecting rod worked by a crank formed on a shaft fitted outside the washing
box. This crank is actuated by gear in a similar manner to that herein-before
described.
The beater and rubbing plate have a forward and backward motion, producing &
rubbing, pressing, and squeezing of the clothes or fabrics till they are thoroughly
cleaned.
On the top of the washing machines are fitted wringing apparatuses, and in the
inside of the washing boxes are fixed inclined pieces of wood forming recesses to
receive the water and suds from the clothes or linen passed through the wringing
machines.
The action of the beaters and rubbing boards produce a rotary motion of the
clothes and fabrics during the process of washing, thereby pressing, rubbing, and
squeezing them until the clothes or linen are perfectly cleaned.
But in order to enable the Invention communicated to me to be better understood
I will proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in
which Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents a sectional side elevation of a washing machine
or apparatus, with shaft, crank, and connecting rod working inside the wooden vessel
or washing box; Figure 2, side elevation; Figure 3, plan (with lid and top removed);
and Figure 4, front elevation of the same..
Figure 5, Sheet 2, represents a sectional side elevation of a washing machine or
apparatus, with shaft, crank, and connecting rod working outside the wooden vessel
or washing box; Figure 6, side elevation; Figure 7, plan, with top and lid removed;
and Figure 8, front elevation of the same.
Similar letters of reference are used in the Figures of each Drawing to represent
similar parts.
A, wooden vessel or washing box made of any required size or form (by preference
oblong), which supported on wooden or iron legs B to raise the box to any required
height from the ground; the top of the box is fitted with a lid C working on
hinges D for placing and removing the clothes or fabrics. In the interior of the
box A are fitted metal brackets E (by preference of galvanized iron); the brackets
are formed with curved arms F, having a series of openings G in which are placed
the bearers or studs H of a rubbing board I, allowing the placing of the rubbing
board near to or away from the beater J, according to the quantity of clothes or
linen to be washed, the adjustment being effected without loss of time. The rubbing
board I is formed with grooves K and openings L for the passage of the water and
suds. On the arms M of the brackets E are fitted moveable levers or arms N,
having brackets formed at the ends, on which is screwed or bolted a wooden
beater J, which receives a backward and forward or rocking movement from the
connecting rod P, which is fitted by a flange Q to the wooden beater J. The con-
necting rod is actuated by a crank R formed on a shaft S actuated by a pinion T
fitted on the shaft S. The pinion is worked by a spur wheel U fitted on a shaft V

page_text: working in bearers W fixed on the top of the washing box; on one end of the
shaft V is fitted a handle X for working the machine, or a pulley can be fitted on
the shaft to work the machine by power. The crank shaft S is fitted with a fly
wheel Y; the beater J is made with grooves Z and openings Z¹ for the passage of
the water and suds.
Secondly. In constructing a machine or apparatus for washing, Figures 5, 6, 7,
and 8, Sheet 2, formed with a similarly constructed vessel or washing box A (sup-
ported on wooden or iron legs B) to that herein-before described. In the inside of
the washing box and on the sides are fitted studs A¹, on which work rocking
levers B¹; on the lower arm C of the levers B¹ are fixed brackets D¹, on which is
fixed a metal rubbing plate E¹ (by preference made of galvanized iron); the rubbing
plate E¹ is made with grooves F¹ and openings G¹ for the passage of the water and
suds.
On the tops H of the levers B¹ are fitted bent levers or arms I¹, to which is
fitted a metal beater J¹ formed with knuckles K¹ and with openings L'; the
The brackets D¹ and the
openings allow the passage of the water and suds.
bearers M¹ of the beater J¹ slide on wooden rails N¹ fitted in the bottom of the
washing box. A rod O¹ is fitted between the top ends of the rocking levers B¹, to
which is fitted a connecting rod P¹ actuated by a crank Q¹ formed on a shaft R¹
fitted outside the washing box. The crank and shaft are actuated by a pinion S¹
and spur wheel T¹ in a similar manner to that herein-before described. The adjust-
ment of the washers to suit the quantity of clothes is effected by moving the
connecting rod cap U₁, which is set in position by the thumb-screw VI bringing the
washers or beater and rubber close together.
The washers or beaters and rubber in both machines have a forward and back-
ward motion, producing a rubbing, pressing, and squeezing of the clothes or fabrics
till they are thoroughly cleaned. On the tops of the machines are fitted wringing
apparatuses, and in the inside of the washing boxes are fixed inclined pieces of wood
forming recesses to receive the water and suds from the clothes or linen passed
through the wringing machines.
The action of the washers or beaters and rubbing boards produce a rotary motion
of the clothes and fabrics during the process of washing, thereby pressing, rubbing,
and squeezing until the clothes or linen are cleaned, without injuring any article,
from the finest lace collar to the heaviest bed quilt.
I
Having thus described the Invention communicated to me, and the best means
am acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as these
may be varied without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but
what I do claim is, the general arrangement, construction, and employment of
washing machines or apparatus, with adjustable washers or beaters and rubber
having forward and backward motions, producing a rubbing, pressing, rolling, and
squeezing of the clothes or linen, substantially as herein-before described and
represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Fyfe, have hereto set my hand and
seal, this Eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousan
eight hundred and seventy-six
Witness,
WALTER JAMES TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
WILLIAM FYFE. (L.S.)