The American-Made 19th Century Red Earthenware Washboard

The nineteenth-century  Alvin Wilcox Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York is known today for its production of beautiful glaze colors, as well as red earthenware candle molds that were built into a pine frame. There are not many of these molds known to exist today; although, they are desirable and I recently wrote about an example that sold at an auction earlier this year in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

According to a report written in 1980 by George R. Hamell for Northeast Historical Archaeology, 'Earthenware and Salt-Glazed Stonewares of the Rochester-Genesee-Valley Region: An Overview,' "The 1862 probate inventory of Alvin Wilcox's (d. 1862) estate in Ontario County, New York offers the most complete contemporary description of some of the equipment used in a local red earthenware pottery, as well as its relative values and that of some of the wares produced. 

This inventory included: 1 peddler's wagon, $20.00; 1 lot of shop boards (drying boards), $5.00; 1 tile machine with fixtures, $8.00, 1 lot of round 10-inch tiles, $2.00; 20 sets of candle molds (clay tubes, their interiors glazed, set into a wooden frame), $10.00; 1 lot of candle molds (individual clay tubes), $2.00; 1 peddler's box, $1.50; 1 clay mill (pug mill), $10.00, 1 tile press, $2.00; 1 glazing mill, $1.00; 2 clay turning lathes (potter's wheels), $4.00; 2 kilns for burning tile and red earthenware, $40.00; and 1 drying frame, $3.00."

According to the Society for Historical Archaeology, "Such sets of candle molds were among the most unique articles of red earthenware manufactured by Alvin Wilcox in the 1850's. These framed molds were sold in a variety of sizes. Wilcox was also one of the few red earthenware potters anywhere, who marked their wares (but not every single piece of pottery that Wilcox produced was marked)."

However, I have also been curious to know where some of the nineteenth-century American-made red earthenware washboards that are known today were made. These boards were manufactured in a similar style that is comparable to the candle molds, which were made at the Wilcox Pottery. The scrub panel was made from red earthenware and the remainder was created with a pine frame. These washboards also came in a variety of sizes.

Interestingly, a few of the boards that I have studied are marked, 'The Common Sense Wash Board,' - whereas, a similar name, 'The Common Sense Washing Machine' can be tied to Waterloo, New York and Syracuse, New York in the 1860s.

The book, 'Documents of the State of New York Ninety-First Session - 1868,' discusses The Common Sense Washing Machine, "The Common Sense Washing Machine" was exhibited by Chas. Klingebeil of Waterloo, Seneca County, New York. The principle involved is productive of almost the precise results to be obtained by the joint use of feminine hands and wash-board."

According to the publication, 'Transactions of the New York State Agricultural Society with an Abstract of the Proceedings of the County Agricultural Societies: Volume XXVI - 1866,' "A trial of eight washing machines was had at the American Hotel, Saratoga Springs, under the supervision of the lady laundress, housekeeper and others of the establishment.

The machines tried were: North Star washing machine, S.E. Hollister, New York; Doty's washing machine, Metropolitan Washing Machine Company, New York; Five Dollar washing machine, J.L. Sash, Philadelphia; Five Dollar washing machine, S.W. Palmer & Co., Auburn; Five Dollar washing machine, John Young & Son, Amsterdam; Common Sense washing machine, E.E. Brewster & Co., Syracuse; Great American washing machine, A.J. Grant & Co., Catskill; Rice's Patent washing machine, Martin Hewitt, Milton Center.

It was decided by those who examined the work that all did exceedingly well, so nearly alike that no opinion of superiority could be given."

I am interested to learn whether the 'Common Sense Washing Machine' can be tied to the 'Common Sense Wash Board.' And, whether the red earthenware washboards that are known today with this mark can be tied to a potter in western New York, especially since there appears to be some production similarities between these red earthenware washboards and the red earthenware candle molds, which are known from the Alvin Wilcox Pottery today.

19th Century American-Made Red Earthenware 'Common Sense Wash Board'

The Scrub Panel is Made from Red Earthenware

The Frame is Made from Pine

Stands 23" Tall

See Article For More Information

Photo Courtesy: Skinner, Inc. - Boston

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