Posted 10 years ago
aghcollect
(2304 items)
This is a wood and glass National Washboard No. 865 - patented 1918 and made by the National Washboard Company - Chicago / Saginaw / Memphis. -- This one is trademarked "The Glass King" -- Prior to the 1940's, over one million washboards were produced and sold by four different companies. When WWII came around, scrap metal was needed which changed the once metal washboards to be produced out of wood and glass. This National Washboard Co. No 865, also marked Top Notch, is one of the premier wood and glass made during that time (circa 1930's-1940's). Made in a deluxe large size (measures 26 1/4'' tall, 13 1/2'' wide and weighs over 5 lbs.) it features sanitary front drain grooves and unique glass ribs with the "National" name on them. There is some "to be expected" soap and water discolorations at top of notched side with opposite side lettering still quite good. The fluted or ridged glass side is where the clothes were rubbed after a bar of laundry soap was applied to the wet clothes. The soap bar rested on the shelf above the glass. This is why the company's advertising logo on the the "business side" of all washboards is always faded or has vanished altogether.
These were in every Chicago home. My mother and mom has impressive muscles--Neither had a double chin either--all from wash-boarding.
I'm looking at two National Washboard Co. glass washboard #865. The business side on both has "The Glass King" and Top Notch printed. The only difference is one has Memphis Chicago Saginaw printed on the front; the other only has Memphis Chicago.