Box mangle
Encyclopedia
The box mangle is said to have been invented in the 17th century. It consisted of a heavy frame containing a large box filled with rocks, resting on a series of long wooden rollers. Damp laundry
could be laid flat under rollers, or wound round the rollers: sometimes enclosed in a sheet
in order to keep the laundry clean. When the rollers were filled, one or two people pulled on levers or turned cranks to move the heavy box back and forth over the rollers. The mangle's primary purpose was to press household linen and clothing smooth.
This was a mechanical version of the hand-held mangle boards and rollers/pins used in many parts of northern Europe. Nowadays the word mangle
suggests a wringing device for removing water from laundry in some English-speaking countries, but the box mangle was used for pressing and smoothing, and was an alternative to hot ironing
for larger items. Flat items, like sheets and tablecloths, usually needed no further ironing.
The box mangle was a large and expensive affair and required a fair bit of labor to operate it. It was often used by very large households, commercial laundries or by self-employed mangle women who served their local area. In the 19th century new designs made it easier to operate, and before the middle of the century the upright, space-saving type with cloth pressed between two rollers had become familiar.
In the late 19th century the commercial steam laundry replaced the box mangle with the steam mangle
, turned by steam power.
Laundry
Laundry is a noun that refers to the act of washing clothing and linens, the place where that washing is done, and/or that which needs to be, is being, or has been laundered...
could be laid flat under rollers, or wound round the rollers: sometimes enclosed in a sheet
Bed sheet
A bed sheet is a piece of cloth used to cover a mattress. It is this sheet that one typically lies on.In many areas of the world, a second flat bed sheet is laid on top of the sheet covering the mattress. This is known as a "top sheet" and when a top sheet is used, the sheet covering the mattress...
in order to keep the laundry clean. When the rollers were filled, one or two people pulled on levers or turned cranks to move the heavy box back and forth over the rollers. The mangle's primary purpose was to press household linen and clothing smooth.
This was a mechanical version of the hand-held mangle boards and rollers/pins used in many parts of northern Europe. Nowadays the word mangle
Mangle
Mangle can refer to:* Mangle , a mechanical laundry aid consisting of two rollers* Box mangle, an earlier laundry mangle using rollers and a heavy weight* Mangled packet, in computing* Mangrove, woody trees or shrubs* Name mangling, in computing...
suggests a wringing device for removing water from laundry in some English-speaking countries, but the box mangle was used for pressing and smoothing, and was an alternative to hot ironing
Ironing
Ironing is the use of a heated tool to remove wrinkles from fabric. The heating is commonly done to a temperature of 180-220 °Celsius, depending on the fabric. Ironing works by loosening the bonds between the long-chain polymer molecules in the fibers of the material...
for larger items. Flat items, like sheets and tablecloths, usually needed no further ironing.
The box mangle was a large and expensive affair and required a fair bit of labor to operate it. It was often used by very large households, commercial laundries or by self-employed mangle women who served their local area. In the 19th century new designs made it easier to operate, and before the middle of the century the upright, space-saving type with cloth pressed between two rollers had become familiar.
In the late 19th century the commercial steam laundry replaced the box mangle with the steam mangle
Mangle
Mangle can refer to:* Mangle , a mechanical laundry aid consisting of two rollers* Box mangle, an earlier laundry mangle using rollers and a heavy weight* Mangled packet, in computing* Mangrove, woody trees or shrubs* Name mangling, in computing...
, turned by steam power.