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Washing Up

Nathanial Briggs was the talk of quilting bees and rug hooking sessions in Keene,

New Hampshire. Nathan came up with a mechanical washing machine that

lightened the daily chore load for women. A patent was issued to him for his

invention on March 28, 1797.

In an advertisement for his product, Nathan reasoned that the most difficult

housework task is washing and the chore is usually taken up by the

“

Fair sex.

”

Briggs said

“

most innovative products favor the male sex and the time to better a

housewife

‟

s day has come.

”

He expected his machine would one day totally

replace hand washing of clothing.

Note: The can opener, cap lifter, corkscrew has an unusual addition of a cocktail

fork. It is an odd place for an advertisement for a Maytag Washer-Ironer. The

Maytag Company was not related to Briggs. Maytag was founded in 1893 as a

farm implement manufacturer and did not produce a washing machine until

1911.