I found a number of sites with pictures of dolly tubs, possers, and mangles. One Australian mangle collector has a site with about 20 mangles all different. The following site "Countryside Museum" is Cumbria specific and so I thought it worthwhile to share the Washday page. If the washday question has been answered, I am sure that some of the rest of this museum might be of interest. http://www.fellpony.f9.co.uk/country/washday/washday.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Banks" <DavidKenneth@banks81.freeserve.co.uk> To: <ENG-CUL-COPELAND-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 3:27 PM Subject: [CUL-COP] Re: mangle > Hi Sarah, > Prepare to be educated! > What you have is a "Dolly-tub" and was an early washing machine. If you can imagine the action of a top-loader washer in a laundromat, it is the same principle. The tank or copper, was filled with hot soapy water and the "stick" as you call it, and which usually has a cross-piece at the top, was pushed down into the washing, five-legged feet first. The two handles at the top were twisted backwards and forwards, while at the same time pulling up, and pushing down. These are exactly the motions the machine-washer manufacturers have tried to emulate since! A bit before my time, although we do have an example of the "stick" in our museum. Anybody know what it was called? A Dolly, perhaps? > The mangle was a cast iron frame, with two wooden rollers, one above the other, which were rotated in opposing directions by a flywheel and crank to one side. Wet clothing was inserted between the rollers, and were squeezed dry of water by turning the crank. This wet clothing was usually then deposited onto a washboard or drainer attached to it. This lot was perched above and to one side of the boiler or copper, and the one my Nana had in the 50's was electric. > Now don't get me started on the purpose of the squares of newspaper hanging on the toilet door! > > Dave > (Florence Mine Heritage Centre, Egremont) > > POSTED ON BOTH LISTS WITH PERMISSION OF ORIGINATOR > ----- Original Message ----- > From: sarah > To: Dave Banks ; CUMBERLAND-L@rootsweb.com > Sent: Tuesday, October 08, 2002 12:15 AM > Subject: mangle > > > >>There is evidence of a mining company > giving, in compensation to the widow, a mangle, so that she could support her family washing clothing for others<<Dave > > Dave, what is that? I bought an old English "washer" at an auction, it is in 2 pieces, one looks like a big metal garbage can, the other is a stick with a 5 legged stool on one end. Supposedly you pulled the stick up and down to create a washing action.... > > Sarah > > ______________________________