The Sonic Clothes Washer... Eh? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Colourstar · 28th Oct 2010, 5:04 pm

From a somewhat mysterious 1957 advert in Electrical and Radio Trader....

How on earth did this work then?!?

Also it looks a bit, well..... small!

OK perhaps for a pair of Y-fronts, but what about bedding etc?

Steve J

28th Oct 2010, 5:24 pm

Cloth soup springs to mind. The Russians had a cold water washing machine that used sudden drops in pressure to 'boil' the water, no detergent needed.

Darren-UK · 28th Oct 2010, 5:28 pm

These were intended to remove marks, such as cooking fat spillage, oil, grease etc from small garments, towels or whatever with only very little, if any, detergent present. Domestic versions weren't meant for doing the household weekly wash.

I have read somewhere that the idea was killed off by the likes of Proctor & Gamble, but the reality was probably simply that the idea never caught on.

JoshWard · 28th Oct 2010, 6:38 pm

No idea but I'd love one just for the name

'Yes hello there, this is my sonic clothes washer...'

Tim · 28th Oct 2010, 8:16 pm

I imagine it works in the same way as sonic jewellery cleaners. Presumably it would be more effective on granular dirt rather than stains.

Mike Phelan · 29th Oct 2010, 5:03 pm

Ultrasonic, maybe, as Tim says? You'd need one or more enormous transducers!

28th Oct 2010, 5:04 pm	#1
Colourstar Octode Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 1,397	The Sonic Clothes Washer... Eh? From a somewhat mysterious 1957 advert in Electrical and Radio Trader.... How on earth did this work then?!? Also it looks a bit, well..... small! OK perhaps for a pair of Y-fronts, but what about bedding etc? Steve J Attached Thumbnails

28th Oct 2010, 5:24 pm	#2
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: The Sonic Clothes Washer... Eh? Cloth soup springs to mind. The Russians had a cold water washing machine that used sudden drops in pressure to 'boil' the water, no detergent needed.

28th Oct 2010, 5:28 pm	#3
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: The Sonic Clothes Washer... Eh? These were intended to remove marks, such as cooking fat spillage, oil, grease etc from small garments, towels or whatever with only very little, if any, detergent present. Domestic versions weren't meant for doing the household weekly wash. I have read somewhere that the idea was killed off by the likes of Proctor & Gamble, but the reality was probably simply that the idea never caught on.

28th Oct 2010, 6:38 pm	#4
JoshWard Octode Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Near Stowmarket, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 1,962	Re: The Sonic Clothes Washer... Eh? No idea but I'd love one just for the name 'Yes hello there, this is my sonic clothes washer...'

28th Oct 2010, 8:16 pm	#5
Tim Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 3,310	Re: The Sonic Clothes Washer... Eh? I imagine it works in the same way as sonic jewellery cleaners. Presumably it would be more effective on granular dirt rather than stains. __________________ "Nothing is as dangerous as being too modern;one is apt to grow old fashioned quite suddenly."

29th Oct 2010, 5:03 pm	#6
Mike Phelan Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Near Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 4,609	Re: The Sonic Clothes Washer... Eh? Ultrasonic, maybe, as Tim says? You'd need one or more enormous transducers! __________________ Mike.