Automatic dishwasher was invented by a socialite who loved to host parties at home!
The dishes and cups that pile up on your kitchen sink are washed by your house help. But, in many parts of the world, a machine does the cleaning job. Yes, we are talking about dishwashers. You might have seen them in Hollywood movies, as they are yet to become a part of every Indian household. One of the reasons you don’t see many dishwashers in your neighbourhood is the high cost and maintenance of these machines. However, with the advancement in technology, they might become more common. Interestingly, the first dishwasher was invented in 1850. Today, we will take you through the journey of these extremely useful devices, from inception to the modern-day evolution.
The first hand-operated dishwasher
In 1850, Joel Houghton, an inventor based in Vermont, USA, designed a wooden machine that can be considered as the earliest form of a dishwasher! The machine involved a wheel that rotated by hand and splashed water on plates. It was not the most efficient machine, but it received its patent and this served as a model for future advances and discoveries.
In the 1860s, an inventor named L. A. Alexander modified this machine by adding a geared mechanism. It allowed the user to rotate racked dishes through a tub of water. However, this model also did not function satisfactorily. So, a more functional machine design was still necessary.
The first automatic dishwasher
In 1886, an American socialite based out of Chicago Illinois, declared that ‘If nobody else is going to create a dishwashing machine, I'll make it myself.’ So, she did! Cochran created the first functional dishwasher. Cochrane liked hosting dinner parties at her house, but hated cleaning dishes! So now you know what motivated her to make a dishwasher.
Josephine’s invention in 1886 was an advanced version of the existing designs of that time. She created the first model in the shed behind her home. The first model of automatic dishwasher that Cochran developed had a flat-surfaced wooden wheel within a copper boiler. It had a motor that could be powered or driven by hand via a pulley system (a mechanism 6to lift heavy objects). It also had wire-framed sections to fit in dishes. The machine rotated hot soapy water on the dishes and cleaned them. This dishwasher model was the first to clean the dishes with water pressure instead of scrubbers! For this extraordinary invention, Cochran was granted a patent on 28 December 1886.
Cochran introduced her design during the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, an international exhibition for designs and inventions and instantly attracted hotels and fancy restaurants. Her device was a mechanical dishwasher that could be operated by hand as well as by electricity. She established a business to produce these dishwashers, called as Cochran's Crescent Washing Machine Company in 1897.
Modern dishwashers with drying function
The dishwashers that we know today was the work of an engineer and a soldier in the British Army William Howard Livens. He ended up developing this machine in 1940, while creating chemical weapons. He designed a front-loading machine with a drying element.
In 1960, Carl Miele, a German businessman unveiled an automatic model of the dishwasher, that could clean and dry dishes. But the machine was expensive, costing around one person’s annual income. However, the idea survived, and by the end of the 1970s, dishwasher had become one of the most widely-used household appliances!
Dishwashers today are more technologically advanced and efficient. They are less expensive and simpler to use with better-spinning sprayers, removable trays, racks and pre-soak cycles. They also use less water and energy, conserving our natural resources. Importantly, they have changed how we design kitchens and modern homes!