IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING AND WRINGING MACHINES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Thompson, of Leeds, in the County of
York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING AND WRINGING
MACHINES."
Sealed the 12th November 1875, and dated the 14th July 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Thompson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 14th July 1875.
I, ROBERT THOMPSON, of Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING
AND WRINGING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
1stly. My Invention consists in an arrangement of machinery or
apparatus whereby clothing and other articles are washed in less time,
much better, and with less injury than in washing machines of ordinary
construction. Between suitable framework, on which may be mounted
a wringing machine of ordinary construction, I provide a washing tub
in which the clothes or articles to be washed are placed, I agitate the
material in the tub by means of what is known as a "posser" or

page_text: "
stamper. A reciprocating vertical movement is given to the "posser
or stamper from suitable motive power or by the attendant, and by
preference transmitted thereto by means of a connecting rod and radial
arm or segment, which segment or radial arm is connected to the
"posser" or stamper by a chain or its equivalent, at the same time I
also give to the " posser or stamper an intermittent rotary motion
produced by a tappet arrangement or other equivalent means.
cushion the blow received from the "posser" or stamper by the material
in the tub I provide a packing under the tub of wood or other elastic
substance which forms also a stay for the machine.
,,
To
2ndly. On that portion of the machine which forms the wringing
machinery I by preference employ a spiral spring for giving the pressure
to the rollers and inclose cach of them in a case or box, preserving
thereby the spring from steam or damp arising from the washing
machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Lotters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 14th January 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
THOMPSON, of Leeds, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of July, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Robert Thompson, Her
special licence that I, the said Robert Thompson, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Thompson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WASHING AND WRINGING MACHINES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Thompson,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,

page_text: ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Thompson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to
say:-
"
"}
Firstly. My Invention consists in an arrangement of machinery or
apparatus whereby clothing and other articles are washed in less time,
much better, and with less injury than in washing machines of ordinary
construction. Between suitable framework, on which may be mounted
a wringing machine of ordinary construction, I provide a washing tub
in which the clothes or articles to be washed are placed, I agitate the
material in the tub by means of what is known as a posser or
stamper. A reciprocating vertical movement is given to the "posser
or stamper from suitable motive power or by the attendant, and by
preference transmitted thereto by means of a connecting rod and radial
arm or segment, which segment or radial arm is connected to the
66 posser or stamper by a chain or its equivalent; at the same time I
also give to the "posser or stamper an intermittent rotary motion
produced by a tappet arrangement or other equivalent means. То
cushion the blow received from the “posser" or stamper by the material
in the tub I provide a packing under the tub of wood or elastic
substance which forms also a stay for the machine.
"
"
Secondly. On that portion of the machine which forms the wringing
machine I by preference employ spiral springs for giving the pressure
to the rollers, and enclose each of them in a case or box, preserving
thereby the spring from steam or damp arising from the washing
machine.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood,

page_text: Figure 3 a plan looking at the top; and Figure 4 a perspective view of
washing machine and wringing machine combined, constructed according
to my Invention.
In my Drawings in Figures 1, 2, and 3, I have shewn the washing
machine separate from the wringing machine.
"
66
"
35
I provide a washing tub a in which the clothes or other articles to be
washed are placed, I agitate the clothes or other articles in the tub a by
means of what is known as a posser" or stamper 6; this stamper or
'posser" b is formed of wood, and consists of any required number of
pegs c which are securely fastened into a foundation board or "posser
head" d. A vertical reciprocating motion is given to the " posser" or
stamper 6 from suitable motive power or by the attendant. When the
motion is imparted by the attendant I arrange the means of transmitting
the same as follows:- -I fix a bracket e in a suitable position, as shewn
at f, on which bracket e is fixed so as to work freely the radial arm or
segment g, which segment or radial arm g is connected to the "posser
or stamper by a chain h, cord, or their equivalents. On the bracket e
I mount so as to work freely a hand lever i which is connected to the
radial arm or segment 7 by means of the connecting rod j. The
attendant or operator takes hold of the hand lever k, as shewn in
Figure 4, and imparts to the hand lever K a radial reciprocating motion,
which is conveyed to the radial arm or segment 9 by means of the con-
necting rod j, and thence to the "posser or stamper b. I also give to
the "posser
or stamper 6 an intermittent rotary motion which I prefer
being given by the hand of the attendant or operator, but which may
also be accomplished by a tappit arrangement or other equivalent
93
"

page_text: The framework of the wringing machine may form the support for
or be attached to the tub a, but when preferred they may be made
independent of each other.
In the wringing machine I by preference employ the ordinary spiral
spring for giving the pressure to the rollers, and enclose each of them
in a case or box, preserving them thereby from the steam or damp
arising from the washing machine. In order to keep the steam in and
by this means the water hot during the washing operation I provide the
lid which must be put on the tub a before the "possing" operation
commences; this cover also acts as a guide for the
"
posser or
stamper rod or spindle during the washing operation.
"
"
I will now proceed to describe the manner in which the washing
operation is proceeded with:-Place loosely in the tub a soaped clothes
until the tub a is not less than a quarter nor more than half full, and
upon theso pour boiling soapy water, put the "
posser or stamper b
into the tub a, the cover on the chain h cord or their equivalents into
the recess at the upper end of the radial arm or segment 9, and work
the hand lever K quickly for about four or five minutes. When working
the hand lever K see that the "posser or stamper 6 is brought quite
to the top and allowed to fall freely at every stroke. At every eighth
or ninth stroke move the " posser or stamper b round about a quarter
turn, so that the foundation board or
effective contact with every article in the tub a.
"
"
"
"
" posser head d, may come into
The "
posser or stamper 6 is attached to the chain h, cord, or their
equivalents, in such a manner that the slightest touch of the attendant
or operator's hand causes it to rotate freely without twisting the chain h,
cord, or their equivalents. When the operation is completed take out
the "
' posser or stamper 6, and lift the clothes up to the wringer. It
is advisable to put them through a second time to secure them being
thoroughly clean.
"
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and shewn
by Drawings how the same may be carried into practice, I would have
it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details or con-
figuration of the parts I have explained and shewn, as the same may of
course be varied or modified without in any way departing from my
Invention, but what I do claim and desire to be secured to me by
Letters Patent is, -

page_text: First. The arrangement, construction, and application of the "posser
or stamper b, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
"
Second. The arrangement, construction, and combination of the
various parts forming the apparatus for transmitting the motion to the
"posser" or stamper b, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
Third. The combination of the herein-described washing machine
with a wringing machine, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Thompson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
ADIDA MEDSON