Washing machine
A washing machine agitates or tumbles textiles in water to remove dirt. Cranks, motors and later automatic controls reduced the repeated manual e...
Explore artifactDiscover artifacts, instruments and engineered systems through the same twelve fields as our History directory.
Domestic & Everyday Machines · 25 entries
A washing machine agitates or tumbles textiles in water to remove dirt. Cranks, motors and later automatic controls reduced the repeated manual e...
Explore artifact
A mangle presses textiles between rollers to squeeze out water or smooth the fabric. Hand-cranked and powered versions became familiar equipment...
Explore artifact
A vacuum cleaner draws air through a collecting system to lift dust from surfaces. Pumps, fans and filters developed into portable household appl...
Explore artifact
A carpet sweeper uses wheels to turn brushes that collect dirt into a chamber. It cleans without an electric motor and became a practical predece...
Explore artifact
A dishwasher directs water and detergent over dishes held in racks. Pumps, sprays, heating and timed cycles mechanized a repetitive domestic and...
Explore artifact
A refrigerator moves heat from an enclosed compartment to its surroundings. Mechanical refrigeration systems replaced repeated deliveries of natu...
Explore artifact
An absorption refrigerator uses heat and a circulating refrigerant-absorbent combination to move heat out of a cooled space. It provides refriger...
Explore artifact
An icebox keeps food cool in an insulated cabinet using a block of ice. Compartments, drainage and insulation extended the usefulness of natural...
Explore artifact
Air-conditioning equipment controls indoor temperature and often humidity by circulating and treating air. Refrigeration, fans and controls devel...
Explore artifact
An electric fan couples a motor to rotating blades that move air. Compact motors brought powered ventilation to workplaces and homes without a se...
Explore artifact
A ceiling fan circulates room air with large overhead blades. Motor drives, speed controls and mounting systems allow continuous air movement whi...
Explore artifact
An electric iron heats a flat soleplate to press fabric. Electrical heating and later thermostatic controls reduced the need to repeatedly reheat...
Explore artifact
An electric toaster browns bread with radiant heat from resistance elements. Timers and release mechanisms developed to regulate the heating cycl...
Explore artifact
An electric kettle heats water through an electrical resistance element. Integrated heating, switches and later automatic shutoff mechanisms turn...
Explore artifact
A food mixer rotates beaters or other attachments to combine ingredients. Hand-operated gears and later electric drives transferred repetitive ki...
Explore artifact
A blender drives blades at the bottom of a container to chop and circulate ingredients. The interaction of blade speed and vessel shape helps mix...
Explore artifact
A meat grinder pushes food along a screw toward rotating blades and a perforated plate. Hand-cranked and powered versions produce a controlled mi...
Explore artifact
A coffee grinder breaks roasted beans into particles suitable for brewing. Burr arrangements and adjustable spacing allow the grind to be matched...
Explore artifact
An espresso machine passes hot water through a compact bed of finely ground coffee under pressure. Boiler, valve, lever and pump designs show suc...
Explore artifact
A vending machine releases a product after a payment mechanism is satisfied. Coin selectors, dispensers and later electronic controls connect a f...
Explore artifact
A cash register records transactions and controls access to a money drawer. Keys, counters and printing mechanisms helped shops track sales befor...
Explore artifact
A parking meter measures paid parking time through a timing mechanism linked to payment. Mechanical coin-operated examples brought clockwork regu...
Explore artifact
A flush toilet uses a controlled release of water to carry waste into a drainage system. Cistern valves, traps and flushing arrangements develope...
Explore artifact
A can opener cuts through or around a metal container's sealed lid. Lever blades and later rotating cutting wheels made preserved food easier to...
Explore artifact
A mechanical pencil holds a replaceable graphite lead and advances it through a small mechanism. Screw, clutch and push-button systems maintain a...
Explore artifact