AN IMPROVED WASHING MACHINE
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Tobiah Pepper, of 29, Sutherland Square,
Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED WASHING MACHINE."
Scaled the 23rd August 1872, and dated the 24th February 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Tobiah Pepper at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th February 1872.
I, TOBIAH PEPPER, of 29, Sutherland Square, Camberwell, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED WASHING MACHINE," to be as follows, viz. :—
The object of my improved washing machine is to wash and cleanse.
articles of clothing and other textile fabrics and fibrous materials in a
more efficient, complete, and rapid manner, and with less injury to the
articles themselves, than can at present be done by any other process.

page_text: other suitable material open at the top and attached to the top of the
machine each side of the lid inside by any suitable fastening. Under
the bottom of this machine outside I place a suitable fire-box four or
five inches wide running the whole length or otherwise of the machine,
and incased within a metal frame attached to the sides of the drum, in
which prepared or other fuel can be burned; or instead of the fire-box
I provide in preference a frame of metal tubing furnished with a set of
gas jets, when a supply of gas can be procured for the purpose of heating
and boiling the water in which the articles are being washed, thus
avoiding the necessity for the troublesome and often inconvenient
process of taking the articles out of the washing tub and boiling, them
in a separate copper. This machine may be mounted on any suitable
stand, and suspended thereon by projecting axes, and surmounted with
a suitable wringing machine. A semi-rotary motion is given to this
machine by any convenient means and power.
In using this machine the articles to be washed are placed in the
drum or body of the machine each side of the roller, with the necessary
quantity of cold water and solvent ingredients. The gas or fire being
lighted beneath the drum, the water soon becomes warm, while a semi-
rotary motion being given to the machine, causes the roller inside to roll
alternately from one side to the other, and in its passages over the
articles will exert a heavy but steady pressure upon them, repeatedly
squeezing and pressing the solvent fluid entirely through every fibre
thereof, and thus effectually removing all trace of soil and grease. And
by means of the false bottom with its waste tap the articles can be
thoroughly rinsed, after being washed and boiled, by causing a supply
of clean cold water to pass through the machine while it is in
motion.
•
The second form of my improved washing machine is that of a
straight trough, about four feet long, two feet wide, and eighteen inches
deep, or other convenient size, for holding the articles to be washed.
This trough is made of metal or wood, or metal and wood, and furnished
with a perforated false bottom, waste tap, and suitable lid. It can be
mounted on any convenient stand, and surmounted with a suitable
wringing machine. Within this trough a heavy roller of metal or stone,
or other suitable material, about twenty-two inches long and six inches
in diameter, is placed transversely, and made to roll freely upon the
articles by means of strong cords, bands, or chains passing through the

page_text: centre of the roller longitudinally, and attached to a small winding axle
or drum fixed at each end of the trough, upon each of which they are
made to wind alternately, and thus draw the roller alternately from end
to end, which, by freely exerting its full weight upon the articles,
continually presses the solvent fluid so thoroughly through them as
to render them perfectly clean without subjecting them to the least
wear or tear. Under the bottom of this trough or machine I provide
a suitable fire box, or a frame of metal tubing, with gas jets, for the
purpose of heating and boiling the water in which the linen or articles
are being washed.
The third form of my improved washing machine for carrying out
my leading principle of washing by pressure (and which in its larger
dimensions is especially adapted for large families, hotels, public
laundries, and other large establishments where steam or other heavy
power is employed) is that of a circular vessel, round trough, or tub,
with a fixed vertical shaft in the centre, supported by suitable frame-
work, and of about four feet in diameter, or other convenient size, for
holding the articles to be washed, and placed horizontally on a con-
venient stand. This round trough or machine may be made of metal or
wood, or metal and wood, or other suitable material, with a flat or
curved bottom and vertical sides, and furnished also with a perforated
false bottom, about half an inch from the true bottom, and a waste tap.
In the trough of this machine is placed transversely two or more heavy
rollers of metal or stone, or other suitable material, about six inches in
diameter or other convenient size, through a central hole in each of
which a cord or band is passed, and attached in its ends to arms extend-
ing from a central hollow shaft, working on a fixed shaft by means of a
wheel and pinion, supported by suitable bearings, and driven by any
convenient power, by the revolutions of which the rollers in their
courses round the trough are made to roll repeatedly over the articles
to be washed, and thus by their steady but heavy pressure upon the
articles to cleanse them effectually from all soil and grease.
For greater efficiency in washing many articles both of a large and
small size together, I also provide flexible rollers instead of solid ones,
as before stated, by having them made in several sectional parts instead
of one solid piece. These several parts are held together by a strong and
flexible band, so that as the rollers pass over the large and thick articles
their flexibility will allow those parts to rise in proportion, while the

page_text: other parts will sink down upon the small articles beneath them, and
thus an even pressure will be exerted alike both upon the large and also
upon the small articles. This form of roller is also applicable in the
other forms of my machine. A series of large heavy balls of metal,
stone, or other suitable material may also be used for effecting the same
objects. The top of this machine may be enclosed with a suitable lid,
divided into two or more parts as may be found most convenient, thus
preventing the unnecessary escape of heat and steam. A suitable
wringing machine is fixed on the top of the framework of this washing
machine. Beneath the trough of this machine I place a circular fire-
box running round the bottom of the trough, in which I burn prepared
or other fuel, for the purpose of heating and boiling the water in which
the articles are being washed; or in preference thereto, where gas is
convenient, I place, in lieu of the fire-box, a circular framework of metal
tubing furnished with a series of gas jets, which being connected with a
gas supply affords a ready and easy means for accomplishing the same
objects.
In steam laundries this heating and boiling process can be readily
effected by the introduction of a steam pipe from the boiler.
The process of washing by my improved machine in either form is
simple, effective, complete, and free from injury, the linen placed therein
being thoroughly washed, boiled, rinsed, and blued without being lifted
out of the machine. The linen, both heavy and fine articles, is placed
in the body of the machine with a sufficient quantity of cold water and
the necessary solvent ingredients. The gas or fire is then lighted, and
when the water begins to get warm the machine is put to work and
continued so till the water nearly boils; the gas must then be reduced
and the water run off by the waste tap, the machine being kept still at
work till it has all run off; the action of the rollers will fully press out
all the dirty water through the false bottom. A fresh supply of clean
water, either warm or cold, and solvent ingredients, is now furnished
and the gas turned on full; when the water is near boiling work the
machine till it has boiled about twenty minutes. The gas may now be
extinguished, the waste tap opened, and the machine kept at work till
all the water is run off and thoroughly squeezed out of the linen, which
has now been thoroughly washed and boiled, and only requires rinsing
and bluing. Fill the machine with clean cold water, and where an
india-rubber tube can be fixed to a water tap let the water keep flowing

page_text: into the machine, the waste tap being open so that a supply of clean
water can be kept flowing through the machine, which must be kept at
work till the water runs off quite clear; this will prove that the linen is
thoroughly rinsed. The waste tap is now closed, and sufficient blue
water prepared and run into the machine, and after working it for a few
minutes the linen will be sufficiently blued, and may be lifted out and
passed through the wringer on the top of the machine, when it will at
once be ready for drying.
от
UL
STOOFT
filed by the said Tobiah Pepper in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, TOBIAH
PEPPER, of 29, Sutherland Square, Camberwell, in the County of Surrey,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Tobiah Pepper, Her special licence that
I, the said Tobiah Pepper, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Tobiah Pepper, 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 "AN IMPROVED WASHING
MACHINE," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Tobiah Pepper, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and 3
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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Tobiah Pepper, 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 Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
8547

page_text: This vessel or machine I provide with an opening of a convenient
size in its upper periphery about sixteen inches long and ten inches
wide, and furnished with a suitable lid made to slide or otherwise, and
made firm by a thumbscrew. Parallel with this opening on each side
and of the whole length of the machine a slip of metal or wood about
two or three inches wide may be fixed inside, extending from the
periphery in a radial direction to prevent any overflow of water in the
motion of the machine. A roller of metal, stone, or other heavy
material about six inches or other convenient diameter is placed inside
of this machine, reaching the whole length or otherwise of the interior
of the drum with the exception of about an inch at each end, and
provided with a central hole through its whole length of about an inch
in diameter, through which a strong cord or band is passed with its two
ends attached to the top of the drum inside, so that the roller may roll
freely at the bottom upon the articles being washed.
This roller may
if preferred be made to move freely in a bag of white canvas or other
suitable material open at the top, and attached by any suitable fastenings
to the top of the machine each side of the lid inside. Under the bottom
of the drum of this machine outside I place a suitable fire-box about four
or five inches wide and four or five inches deep, with a concave bottom
running the whole length or otherwise of the machine, and made to slide
within a metal case or frame attached or otherwise to the sides of the
drum, in which prepared or other fuel can be burned; or instead of the
fire-box I provide in preference a frame of metal tubing with a series of
gas jets or holes, when a supply of gas can be procured for the purpose
of heating and boiling the water in which the articles are being washed,
thus avoiding the necessity for the troublesome and often inconvenient
process of taking the articles out of the washing tub and boiling them in
a separate copper. The fire-box and gas frame may be made separately
or in one heating apparatus. This machine can be mounted on any
suitable stand, and a semi-rotary motion given to it by hand or other
convenient power. A suitable wringer is mounted on the top of this
machine. This form of my machine will be more clearly understood by
reference to the Drawings annexed hereto with the accompanying

page_text: is made to slide in a groove or otherwise and fastened down when
required by thumbscrews; E, the winch handle by which a semi-rotary
motion is given to the machine; F, the waste tap. Fig. 2, a sectional
view of the internal parts of the machine. A, the drum with linen at
the bottom over which the roller G is made repeatedly to pass from side
to side; B, the heating apparatus sliding into the case 6', 6'; D, the lid,
and shewing the two slips of metal d, d, placed radially each side.
Fig. 3, heating apparatus; B, B, fire-box with air draft openings at
bottom; B', B', metal tubes with gas jets and screw joint b.
In using this machine the articles to be washed are placed in the
drum or body A, each side of the roller G, with the necessary quantity
of cold water and solvent ingredients. The gas or fire being lighted in
the heating apparatus B, the water soon becomes warm; a semi-rotary
motion being given to the machine by the winch handle E causes the
roller inside to roll from side to side alternately, and in its frequent
passage over the linen or articles will exert a heavy but steady pressure
upon them, repeatedly squeezing and pressing the solvent fluid entirely
through every fibre thereof, and thus effectually removing all trace of
soil and grease. And by means of the false bottom with the waste tap,
the linen can be thoroughly rinsed after being washed and boiled by
causing a supply of clean water to pass through the machine.
The second form of my improved washing machine is that of a
straight trough or rectangular vessel about five feet long, eighteen
inches wide, and eighteen inches deep, or such other dimensions as may
be required, for holding the articles to be washed. This trough or
machine is made of metal, or metal and wood, or other suitable material,
and furnished with a perforated false bottom about inch from the real
bottom, which may be slightly convex, waste tap, and suitable lid, and
fixed on any convenient stand with a wringer on the top. Within this
trough a heavy roller of metal or stone or other suitable material, about
sixteen inches long and about eight inches in diameter, is placed
transversely and made to roll freely upon the articles to be washed by
means of strong cords, bands, or chains passed through the centre of
the roller longitudinally or otherwise, and attached to a small winding
axle or drum fixed at each end of the trough outside, upon each of
which it is made to wind alternately, and thus draw the roller
alternately from end to end of the trough by means of an endless cord
or band passing round a drum or axle fixed on the outside of the trough

page_text: and driven by hand or other power, and which by freely exerting its full
weight upon the articles continuously presses the solvent fluid so
thoroughly through them as to render them perfectly clean without the
least wear or tear. Beneath the bottom of this trough or machine I
provide a suitable fire-box or frame of metal tubing with gas jets similar
to the heating apparatus of the first form of my machine, for the
purpose of heating and boiling the water in which the linen is being
washed.
Fig. 4 shews an elevation of this form of my machine. A, the trough
or body of the machine, on the perforated bottom of which the linen or
other material is placed for washing; B shews the position of the
heating apparatus, which is similar in shape to that in the first machine;
D, the drum which carries the endless band E, E, worked by hand or
other power, and driving the winding axles F, F, at each end of the
machine, which receive cords or bands from the roller G, thus drawing
the roller alternately from end to end of the trough over the linen;
H, the waste tap.
The third form of my improved washing machine for carrying out my
leading principle of washing by pressure is that of a circular vessel,
round trough or tub, about three feet six inches in diameter and eighteen
inches deep, or other convenient size according to the work to be done,
with a fixed vertical shaft in the centre supported by suitable frame
work, and placed horizontally on any convenient stand. This machine
in its larger dimensions is especially adapted for large families, hotels,
institutions, laundries, and other establishments where steam or other
power is employed. This trough or machine is made of metal, or metal
and wood, or other suitable material, with a slightly convex bottom and
vertical sides, and furnished also with a perforated false bottom about
half an inch from the true bottom at the centre, and a waste tap. In
the trough of this machine is placed transversely two or more heavy a
rollers of metal or stone, or other suitable material, about six or eight
inches in diameter and fifteen inches long, or other convenient size, with
plain or fluted surfaces. These rollers may be gradually diminished in
diameter towards the inner end, through a central hole in each of which
a cord or band is passed and attached in its ends to extending arms a
radiating from a central hollow shaft, or bosses working on a fixed shaft
by means of a wheel and pinion supported by suitable bearings, and
driven by hand or other convenient power, by the revolutions of which

page_text: the rollers in their courses round the trough are made to roll repeatedly
over the linen or other material to be washed, and thus by their steady
but heavy pressure upon the linen to cleanse it effectually from all soil
and grease.
For the greater convenience and efficiency in washing many
articles both of a large and small size together, I also provide flexible
rollers instead of solid ones, as before stated, by having them made
in several sectional parts instead of one solid piece. These several
parts are held together by a strong and flexible band, so that as the
rollers pass over the large and thick articles the flexibility of the rollers
will allow those parts to rise in proportion, while the other parts will
sink down upon the small articles beneath them, and thus an even
pressure will be exerted alike upon the large and small articles. This
form of roller is also applicable to the two former machines for effecting
the same objects. A series of large heavy bulls of metal, stone, or other
suitable material may also be used for the same purpose. The top of
this machine may be enclosed with a suitable lid, which may be divided
into two or more parts as may be found most convenient for preventing
the unnecessary escape of heat and steam. A suitable wringer is fixed
either on the top of the framework of this machine, or on the side of
the trough, whichever is found most convenient according to the size.
I also place a circular heating apparatus beneath the bottom of the
trough of this machine, consisting of a circular fire-box with a framework
of metal tubing with gas jets for the purpose of heating and boiling
the water in which the linen is being washed. In larger machines this
apparatus may be made in two parts.
In steam laundries this heating and boiling process can be easily
effected by the introduction of a steam pipe from the boiler.
Fig. 5 exhibits the third form of my improved washing machine.
A, A, the circular trough or body of the machine into which the linen
is put to be washed; B, B, the heating apparatus under the trough;
D, D, wheel and pinion on central shaft, and driven by hand or other
power, carrying the hollow shaft or bosses E, E, with the two arms F, F,
by which the rollers G, G, are drawn round the trough upon the linen.
Fig. 6, the heating apparatus; B, B, the circular fire-box; B', B', gas

page_text: The process of washing by my improved machines is simple, effective,
complete, and free from injury, the linen placed therein being
thoroughly washed, boiled, rinsed, and blued without being once lifted
out of the machine.
1. The linen, both heavy and fine articles, is placed in the body of
the machine with a sufficient quantity of cold water and the necessary
solvent ingredients. The gas or fire is then lighted, and when the
water begins to get warm the machine is put to work and continued so
till the water nearly boils; the gas must then be reduced, and the water
run off by the waste tap, the machine being kept still at work till it has 1
all run off. The action of the rollers will squeeze out all the dirty water
through the false bottom.
2. A fresh supply of clean water, either warm or cold, and solvent
ingredients is now furnished, and the gas turned on full; when the
water is near boiling work the machine till it has boiled about fifteen 1
minutes. The gas or fire may now be extinguished, the waste tap opened,
and the machine kept at work till all the water is squeezed out of the
linen, which has now become thoroughly washed and boiled, and only
requires rinsing and bluing.
3. Fill the machine with clean cold water, and where an india-rubber
tube can be fixed to a water tap let the water keep flowing into the
machine, the waste tap being opened so that a continuous supply of
clean cold water can be kept flowing through the machine, which must
be kept at work till the water runs off quite clear; this will prove that
the linen is thoroughly rinsed. The waste tap is now closed, and suffi- 2
cient blue water prepared and run into the machine, and after working
the machine a few minutes the linen will be sufficiently blued, and may
be lifted out and passed through the wringer on the top of the machine,
when it will be ready for drying.
Note. Section 2 of the process refers only to articles that require 3
boiling.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shewn how the
same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I
wish it understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details
herein given and set forth, so long as the peculiar character of my 3
Invention be retained; and that what I claim as my Invention to be
secured by the herein-before in part recited Royal Letters Patent is, the

page_text: process or plan of washing on the principle of heavy but steady pressure,
as set forth by the Specification and Drawings herein contained, together
with the machinery and apparatus connected therewith for the purposes
herein specified.
In witness whereof; I, the said Tobiah Pepper, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.
TOBIAH PEPPER. (L.S.)