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retro

In pics: The early gadgets of the housework revolution

Electric coffee dispenser in your car? Dish AND clothes washing machine? These was the early (domestic) appliances of science…

THEY CALLED IT the appliance of science – the technology that began to revolutionise how housework was carried out towards the middle of the 20th century.

We’re not sure how much of the workload these early domestic appliances lifted from the shoulders of (mainly) housewives… Did you have anything resembling these, er, gadgets at home?

In pics: The early gadgets of the housework revolution
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  • Washing machine - 1953

    Image: Tophams/Topham Picturepoint/Press Association Images
  • Household goods at a Curry's store, England - 1967

    Image: Barratts/S&G Barratts/EMPICS Archive
  • Automated clothes wringer - 1958

    Image: Topham/Topham Picturepoint/Press Association Images
  • Combination clothes and dishwashing machine - 1950

    Image: Barratts/S&G Barratts/EMPICS Archive
  • Electrical car coffee dispenser, Germany - 1950

    The boiler ran on the car'’s generator and could also be used for preparing soups, boiling eggs or heating water for washing or shaving. Image: AP Photo/Albert Riethausen
  • Laundry machine, USA - 1941

    Image: AP Photo/Press Association Images
  • Early all-electric kitchen - 1919

    Image: Topham/Topham Picturepoint/Press Association Images
  • Mini vacuum cleaner - 1967

    Image: Topham/Topham Picturepoint/Press Association Images
  • 'Hoover' brand vacuum cleaner - 1937

    Image: Topham/Topham Picturepoint/Press Association Images
  • Electric spin dryer - 1958

    Image: Topham/Topham Picturepoint/Press Association Images
  • Electric dishwasher - 1960

    Image: Topham/Topham Picturepoint/Press Association Images
  • Automatic electric toaster - 1949

    Original description: "An automatic electric toaster, the toaster will shoot out the toast when it is brown." Image: Topham/Topham Picturepoint/Press Association Images
  • Electric cooker - 1956

    TV chef Phyllis "Fanny" Craddock at an electric cooker on board a new camping coach (?) for British Rail. Image: Barratts/S&G Barratts/EMPICS Archive

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