Summary
Hand-operated mangle used to wring water from wet laundry at a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia, circa 1880. Manufactured by Nicoll, G.H. & Co., 1820.
Physical Description
Mangle has tall, cast-iron frame with 3 large wooden rollers. Sides of frame are shaped like narrow, pointed arches, holding alternating wood and metal blocks which support rods through rollers. Middle roller has large cog-wheel attached to right end of rod. This connects to larger turning wheel with long horizontal wooden handle (and 3 curved spokes). Pressure on rollers maintained by massive, arched spring across top of frame, ends fitting into arches at side above rollers and which is pushed down by a large vertical screw (with turning wheel on top) which threads down through top crossbar to push down on highest part of spring. Frame is bolted to stand with bowed front legs and with angularly curved, diagonal cross-bars. Once painted green, now flaking.
More Information
-
Collection Names
-
Collecting Areas
-
Acquisition Information
Donation from Office of Psychiatric Services, May 1985
-
Manufacturer
-
Place & Date Used
-
Inscriptions
G.H.NICOLL & Co. BANK STREET embossed across front, top. DUNDEE embossed on back, top.
-
Classification
Medicine & health, Mental health - institutional life, Laundering
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
overall dimensions
123 cm (Length), 70 cm (Width), 156 cm (Height)
-
References
Oral history, Dr E.C.Dax, 4 May 1992
-
Keywords
Laundry Equipment, Psychiatric Hospitals, Making History - Psych Services