Vtg 1954 Whirlpool Surgomatic Washing Machine Advertising Magnet 

This large sized magnet pictures a 1950s advertisement for a Whirlpool Surgomatic wringer washing machine.  It offered push buttons to start the washing and draining cycles but to remove moisture you still had to run each garment through the "wringer" rolls on top.

This advertisement appeared in a July, 1954 issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine.  The issue was likely on newstands in May-June and the appliance was patented May 3, 1954, so this was part of the introductory promotion.  The Whirlpool Corporation's interesting history began in 1908.  In 1964 there were still 17 million wringer washing machines in use in America, representing over 50 different brands.  Maytag discontinued wringer washers in 1983.  1964 users were more apt to be wearing slacks than dresses and aprons, however (think Laura Petrie's capri pants), and from personal experience I can tell you that by 1968 we were wearing jeans and our feet were bare.

As newlyweds in the late 1960s we had an old wringer washer, don't remember the brand.  One time I ran something too thick through the wringer rolls and the "instinctive" safety release mechanism kicked in, popping open the wringer head -- smacking me on the forehead and leaving a tiny scar that remains today as testimony to my wringer battles.  Getting water in and out of the tub was an adventure involving a hose from the kitchen sink that sometimes popped off, making a puddle on the floor, and a vacuum cleaner pipe to extend the length of the drainage hose to a drain in the bathroom shower stall, another unreliable connection that resulted in dirty, soapy puddles.  Despite the messiness, having a washing machine at home meant I only had to use the coin op laundromat for drying.

 Can't think why anyone would be interested but as long as I'm in reminiscing mode... in those years we also had a 1955 Chevy with a bad starter.  Since we lived at the top of a hill and the laundromat was at the bottom of the hill, we could coast down the hill and pop the clutch to get the car started so as to make it across a busy street to the laundromat.  Getting back home was more of a challenge.  We became expert at spotting even modest slopes and I don't think there was a hill in Bloomington, IN that we didn't coast down at least once.)

Magnet size:
3” x 4” (7.6cm x 10.2cm)