The Thor washing machine was the first electric clothes washer sold commercially in the United States. Produced by the Chicago-based Hurley Electric Laundry Equipment Company, the 1907 Thor is believed to be the first electrically powered washer ever manufactured, crediting Hurley as the inventor of the first automatic washing machine. Designed by Hurley engineer Alva J. Fisher, a patent for the new electric Thor was issued on August 9, 1910, three years after its initial invention.[1]
1920 advertisement for the Thor electric washing machine.
The idea of an automatic washing machine had been around for many years. However, these were crude mechanical efforts that typically involved a manually operated crank or similar design.[2] In many ways, the patent of the new Thor washer sounds modern, even today. The patent states that a "perforated cylinder is rotatably mounted within the tub containing the wash water". A series of blades lifted the clothes as the cylinder rotated. After 8 rotations in one direction, the machine would reverse rotation to "prevent the cloths from wadding up into a compact mass".[3]Drive belts attached to a Westinghouse motor connected to three wheels of different sizes, which moved the drum during operation. The design also included a clutch, which allowed the machine to switch direction, and an emergency stop rod. The new Thor washer was mass marketed throughout the United States beginning in 1908.[2]
There is a dispute over who was the first inventor of the automatic washer. A company called Nineteen Hundred Washing Machine Company of Binghamton, NY, claims to have produced the first electric washer in 1906; a year before Thor's release.[4] Additionally, it has been stated in various articles on the Internet that a Ford Motor Company employee invented the electric washer in late 19th century or early 20th century. Since Ford was incorporated in 1903, the Ford story seems unlikely to be valid. Regardless, Thor remains one of the first (if not the first) company to manufacture and sell an automatic washing machine on a large scale.[citation needed]
Other Thor innovationsedit
Tilt-a-whirl agitatoredit
Thor invented the tilt-a-whirl system in which the agitator, typically in the shape of disk, tilted back and forth within the washer drum while simultaneously rotating. The early 1930s tilt-a-whirl design was the first agitator to move water in both a horizontal and vertical motion. The 1936 version of the Thor tilt-a-whirl incorporated sculpted hands embossed on the agitator. At the time, some Thor dealers painted the fingernails of the hands on demonstration machines.[2]
Automagic washer/dishwasheredit
In the 1940s, Thor introduced the Automagic hybrid washer/dishwasher. The top-loading machine included both a removable clothes washing drum and a dish-washing drum. The Automagic was widely marketed but disappeared from the marketplace soon after its introduction, as many consumers soured on the idea of washing dirty clothing and dishes in the same machine.[5]
Thor todayedit
The Thor trademark was acquired in 2008 by Los Angeles–based Appliances International, a supplier of washer dryer combos and stacking washers and dryers. Soon after the brand acquisition, the company introduced a new line of laundry appliances under the Thor brand.
thor, washing, machine, first, electric, clothes, washer, sold, commercially, united, states, produced, chicago, based, hurley, electric, laundry, equipment, company, 1907, thor, believed, first, electrically, powered, washer, ever, manufactured, crediting, hu. The Thor washing machine was the first electric clothes washer sold commercially in the United States Produced by the Chicago based Hurley Electric Laundry Equipment Company the 1907 Thor is believed to be the first electrically powered washer ever manufactured crediting Hurley as the inventor of the first automatic washing machine Designed by Hurley engineer Alva J Fisher a patent for the new electric Thor was issued on August 9 1910 three years after its initial invention 1 1920 advertisement for the Thor electric washing machine The idea of an automatic washing machine had been around for many years However these were crude mechanical efforts that typically involved a manually operated crank or similar design 2 In many ways the patent of the new Thor washer sounds modern even today The patent states that a perforated cylinder is rotatably mounted within the tub containing the wash water A series of blades lifted the clothes as the cylinder rotated After 8 rotations in one direction the machine would reverse rotation to prevent the cloths from wadding up into a compact mass 3 Drive belts attached to a Westinghouse motor connected to three wheels of different sizes which moved the drum during operation The design also included a clutch which allowed the machine to switch direction and an emergency stop rod The new Thor washer was mass marketed throughout the United States beginning in 1908 2 Contents 1 Controversy 2 Other Thor innovations 2 1 Tilt a whirl agitator 2 2 Automagic washer dishwasher 2 3 Thor today 3 References 4 External linksControversy edit nbsp Penngrove Museum CAThere is a dispute over who was the first inventor of the automatic washer A company called Nineteen Hundred Washing Machine Company of Binghamton NY claims to have produced the first electric washer in 1906 a year before Thor s release 4 Additionally it has been stated in various articles on the Internet that a Ford Motor Company employee invented the electric washer in late 19th century or early 20th century Since Ford was incorporated in 1903 the Ford story seems unlikely to be valid Regardless Thor remains one of the first if not the first company to manufacture and sell an automatic washing machine on a large scale citation needed Other Thor innovations editTilt a whirl agitator edit Thor invented the tilt a whirl system in which the agitator typically in the shape of disk tilted back and forth within the washer drum while simultaneously rotating The early 1930s tilt a whirl design was the first agitator to move water in both a horizontal and vertical motion The 1936 version of the Thor tilt a whirl incorporated sculpted hands embossed on the agitator At the time some Thor dealers painted the fingernails of the hands on demonstration machines 2 Automagic washer dishwasher edit In the 1940s Thor introduced the Automagic hybrid washer dishwasher The top loading machine included both a removable clothes washing drum and a dish washing drum The Automagic was widely marketed but disappeared from the marketplace soon after its introduction as many consumers soured on the idea of washing dirty clothing and dishes in the same machine 5 Thor today edit The Thor trademark was acquired in 2008 by Los Angeles based Appliances International a supplier of washer dryer combos and stacking washers and dryers Soon after the brand acquisition the company introduced a new line of laundry appliances under the Thor brand References edit About com History of the Washing Machine 1 2 a b c OldeWash com Who Invented the First Washing Machine http www oldewash com articles Electric Washer pdf Her century A chronology of 100 years of highs and lows http www projo com cgi bin include pl specials women timeline htm Washing Machine Dryers http washingmachinedryers co uk washing machine history AutoMagic Advertisement https news google com newspapers id C2Y0AAAAIBAJ amp sjid 6qQEAAAAIBAJ amp pg 2503 310927 amp dq automagic thor amp hl enExternal links editThor Appliance Company archived from the original on 2011 09 23 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thor washing machine amp oldid 1192916591, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
