Iowa Almanac
Iowa Almanac -- Friday, November 22, 2024
The last of the ringers. More from the Iowa Almanac in a moment. It wouldn't be Christmas without Camp Courageous Fruit Cakes, and they're now available in stores across Iowa and at Camp Courageous.org/fruitcakes. Camp Courageous Fruit Cakes are generously filled with cherries, nuts, pineapple, coconut, and just the right amount of cake batter to hold it all together. Most of all proceeds go to support Camp Courageous near Monticello, Iowa. For a list of stores or to order online, go to Camp Courageous.org/fruitcakes. Frederick Maytag's company in Newton was a world leader in development of washing machines. In fact, it was one of the few businesses to actually make a consistent profit during the Great Depression. The first mass-produced washer was made in 1907. Called the pastime, it was hand-driven with a crank on top. There was a flywheel underneath to help with the load of cranking. The first washer with a ringer added came in 1909. Called the hired girl, it could be either hand-powered or driven by an outside power source. Electricity as a power source was added in 1911. Over the next three quarters of a century, Maytag washers advanced in technology with each new model. For example, an easy release ringer was added in 1921 for safety. Some models in the 1920s had gas engines or could be outfitted with either electric or gas motors. The last of the new models was introduced in 1955, but Maytag ringer washers were produced until November 22, 1983. First introduced during World War II in 1945, Model E2L, or the Master, featured a square aluminum tub with either a gas or electric motor, and it became the model with the longest running production of any of Maytag's ringer washers. For 76 years, Maytag ringer washers rolled off the production lines in Newton, but the very last one was made on this date in 1983. And that's Iowa Almanac for November 22. There's more online at IowaAlmanac.com. Until Monday, I'm Jeff Stein.