Since things are constantly changing today—advances in technology, revolutionary developments in medicine and science, discoveries that change our perception of what we thought we knew about the past—it’s no wonder that the world seems very different than it did when we were young.
We could say that we live in the most progressive and transitional era in human history. Whereas before it took centuries to implement new tools and technologies, now things seem to evolve and change in just a matter of months.
For people born decades ago, society must be very different from what it was before. And I’m not just talking about how people treat each other, or the cost of houses, or the types of jobs on offer, but also the gadgets and tools we use in our daily lives…
In fact, it has become very popular to post once common household items and objects online that have now become insignificant.
You probably know what I’m talking about. Take, for example, a dowser (there can’t be many people who recognise one these days) or how about a coat hanger cover, placed over wooden coat hangers to prevent objects from falling off?
Either way, we found another example of what today’s kids would probably consider an ancient artifact, but was once a staple in homes across the country.
Do you know what the device in the picture above is? If you are over a certain age, perhaps you recognize it from your childhood? If you know what it is, let us know in the comments.
For those of you unfamiliar with this “machine” (I use that term loosely), it was a precursor to today’s washing machines, known as wringers.
If you are under a certain age, washing clothes, sheets and towels has always been a simple process, not requiring a significant amount of brainpower or energy.
Simply fill the machine, add the required powder or liquid and press a button or turn a dial. Isn’t that right?
However, as with most modern conveniences, the road to this simple luxury has been long and full of twists and turns.
There was a time when doing laundry was a decidedly different experience, involving soaking, beating, cleaning and rinsing soiled fabrics. Plus, fetching water was a process involving many steps: carrying it by hand in a bucket, heating it over a fire to warm it up, and then pouring it into the washtub.
Obviously, having only one tub of water meant that things got dirty pretty quickly when washing them, while another step was required to remove the water and soap from the washed clothes.
Considering all these factors, it is no wonder that back then, doing laundry could take a few hours!
Have you ever seen a washer-extractor? Let us know if so in the comments.