History of Washing Machine

The first British patent under the category of Washing and Wringing Machines was issued in 1691. A drawing of an early washing machine appeared in the January 1752 issue of "The Gentlemen's Magazine," an English publication. In 1782 Henry Sidgier was issued a British patent for a rotating drum washer.

The first United States Patent titled "Clothes Washing" was granted to Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire in 1797. However, there is no drawing or description of the patent so whether it was for a washing machine or something else related to washing, remains a mystery.

The electric washing machine was first mass produced in 1906. It is not known who first "invented the electric" washer. A.J. Fisher has been incorrectly credited with the invention of the electric washer. The US patent office shows at least one patent issued before Mr. Fisher's for a washing machine with an electric motor. The first automatic washer was introduced by Bendix in 1937.