Objektnummer
68/257
Beskrivning
This box mangle was stored in the old ironing room of a cottage at Hill Hoath, on the Hever Castle estate, Kent. This property was formerly occupied by a Miss Best whose grandfather and other relations worked in the laundry for Chiddingstone Castle- apparently when sheets were pressed in this machine they were not merely dried but were virtually ironed. The mangle is marked 'Baker Fore Street London'.
Arkivhistorik
MERL ‘Handwritten accession’ form ( Institute of Agricultural History) - ‘BOX MANGLE // Domestic cleaning laundering // Gift, Miss E Best, Edenbridge, Kent. March 1968 // Description: This box mangle has a sturdy frame of oak and a box of various woods, including a mahogany bottom. The box, which was formerly filled with rubble, rests on 3 rollers of beech wood which run on two mahogany boards fitted length ways in the main frame. The iron parts consist of both cast and wrought work and includes a crank handle, fly wheel and wheel with peg teeth. ‘Baker Fore Street London’ is cast on the handle side. Dimensions: Fly wheel:L 1.18m dia. Frame 2.14m, 93cm wide, 82cm high. // Associated information: The weighted box runs backwards and forwards over the loose rollers around which the clothes are wound. When it reaches the end of its travel in each direction, it automatically dips so that the rollers can be removed and the clothes taken out. The box is quided by wooden wheels set in the sides of the top rails… the folding parts on the centre frame engage with the brackets at each end of the box and tilt it at te end of its travel (Pinto) cont. The cast wheel with the peg teeth provides the automatic reversing device known as ‘Bakev’s Patent’, by this, the handle can be continually turned one way, instead of the operator being reqired every minute to reverse the motion of his arm. ‘This is affected by a wheel having teeth in the forms of pegs on the side, into which works a pinion, fixed on the end of a spindle, which vises and fails in a vertical groove and works first on the under side and then turns round in a channel and works on the upper side. The opposite end of the spindle has a pinion which is operated upon by a small wheel which is turned by the handle’ (JC Loudon) Loudon recommends this mangle for all large farm establishments. The earliest entries for mangle manufacturers is in a London directory for 1790 and includes Baker and Son of Fore Street. However, box mangles are said to have been invented in the seventeenth century. Thos. Bradford & Co. of Salford were making box mangles up to at least 1878 (Pinto). This box mangle was stored in the old ironing room of a cottage at Hill Hoath, on the Hever Castle estate, Kent. This property was formerly occupied by a Miss Best whose grandfather and other relations worked in the laundry for Chiddingstone Castle- apparently when sheets were pressed in this machine they were not merely dried but were virtually ironed.’
Produktionsplats
Greater London [region]
Objektnamn
Digital referens
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_13929.tif - High resolution image