Automatic Washer - Seattle, WA
N 47° 36.126 W 122° 20.020
10T E 550086 N 5272291
This automatic washing machine is on display in Bill Spiedel's Seattle Underground gift shop and was most likely salvaged many years after downtown was rebuilt after the terrible Seattle Fire of 1889.
Waymark Code: WMWETJ
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 08/24/2017
Views: 9
Our family did the Seattle Underground Tour and enjoyed learning about the history of Seattle before and after the Seattle Fire of 1889. After the fire destroyed much of downtown Seattle, the city decided to rebuild, but opted to build on top of existing streets. Thus, buildings' ground level floors now became basement level floors and sidewalks now became underground passageways with new sidewalks built over them. For many years after the rebuilding of downtown Seattle, these underground passageways became more and more dangerous with murders, muggings and other crimes continually reminding the locals of how dangerous Seattle could be. I don't remember when these passageways were finally closed off to the general public but when they were, many people and businesses left everything AND the kitchen sink behind and many items were lost to time and the elements, only to be rediscovered again decades later by work crews and modern archaeologists.
This automatic washing machine is one of those items that were most likely tossed aside in the underground and was eventually found and made its way to here in the gift shop. This appliance is one of a few preserved machines on display in the gift shop as visitors to the Underground Tour pass through on their exit to whatever other destination lays ahead.
The automatic washer was made by the Automatic Electric Washer Co. Inc. based in Newton, Iowa. A small plate lists it as Model 214 C and with Serial No. 21438.
There was no other information on this appliance but it is a nice piece of preserved history in this gift shop.