Gainaday Electric Washer

I apologize if this is in the wrong forum. I am new to this site. My husband and I recently took over my familys farmhouse and have been remodeling it. In an old mudroom we just started going through I found a washing machine Gainaday Electric Washer. I thought it was pretty cool and wanted to clwan it up and put it in our laundry room this summer. Two days ago we had a gentleman come up to collect scrap metal from one of the outer buildings on our property and my husband brought him into the mudroom to see if there was anything he would take in there. He saw the washing machine and immediately asked if we were getting rid of it and I said no I wanted to hang on to it. Yesterday we ran into him and he told my husband to talk to me about getting rid of the washing machine that he had been thinking about it and name my price. I hadn't really thought of selling it but it seems like he really wants it I was wondering if anybody had any information on what something like this would be worth. I still don't think I'll be getting rid of it unless I could get a good amount for it otherwise I kind of liked it to be an aesthetic piece for our home. We have a lot of antiques we are holding onto.

 

Welcome!
Please do this always>>>
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I have found (on-line) a write-up about the Gainaday Electric Washer. It is in the March 13, 1920 "Electrical World" publication, page 637.

"W. H. Vilett and Harry Bohn, who formerly operated the Sterling Electric Company, Minneapolis, Minn., have purchased the household appliance section of the Sterling Electric Company's business and disposed of the company's jobbing and contracting business. The name of the household appliances department has been changed to the Gainaday Electric Company, and it will continue to operate at 29 South Fifth Street, Minneapolis, Minn. The new Gainaday Electric Company will sell Gainaday washing machines . . . ."

I thought you might find this of interest.

 

Someone might come along with a more detailed answer but from what I have seen of similar washers (I haven't seen this brand) I would estimate this would sell for $100-$250 if you found the right person (or a couple of the right people at an auction).

 

Click thumbnail for the pictures?

 

Ok thank you
I may just keep it

 

What KingofThing is saying is to click the full image button so we don't have to click on your images to see it full size.

 

Ok im sorry i will next time!

 

No NO, click the "Full Image" button....the button that the red arrow is nearly covering!!!

 

Oh, and WELCOME, Andrea!!! I think you'll find this site a fun and informative place!!!! Back when I was in my teens (LOOOONG ago) and had a friend visiting in the summer, we had a similar washing machine in the cellar............and were doing the laundry...I was on the receiving end of the ringer, the friend was putting the clothes into the ringer.........................until I saw her hand coming through.......we both screamed simultaneously........I thought to hit the shutoff on the side and ran upstairs to get Mom......whilst my friend simply put it in reverse and backed her hand out!!!!!! We were both terrified at the moment, but no broken bones or anything, thankfully!!! And we didn't have to finish doing the rest of the laundry!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I think Joshua is in the ball-park on this. I could see it going for less at a country auction or a bit more all cleaned up and at a nice show or shop. I think you can compare it to any brand of similar vintage, though the copper ones seem to do a bit better than others.

 

The same thing happened to my brother.....he today still bears the scars on his elbow.

My mother was operating the machine at the time. That was the last time any of us kids even throught about feeding the machine!

 

Hi,
Made me laugh. I have run my arm through the dang wringer four or five times as a kid. Always had a space to push to release the rollers.
greg

 

YIKES!!! My friend's hand only got to maybe almost the wrist before it got shut off!!!! Elbow sounds NASTY.....sorry for that!!!!

 

It looked like so much FUN to feed the clothes through!

 

Sounds a lot like a scene in Indiana Jones The Temple of Doom!

 

It was the "Cellar of Doom"!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ours was in the kitchen. We lived in an apt upstairs in Farmor's house (father's mother).

I can't remember the set up now, but I think we had a double sink and the wrung clothes (is wrung a word? lol!) ended up there and put in a wicker laundry basket. My mother would then hang them on a clothes line to dry....2nd floor narrow window. Summer and Winter!

We had a neighbor who would do the same, and I remember my mother and this neighbor having long conversations while hanging clothes....longer in the Summer than Winter tho!

 

Maybe I shouldn't keep it then my kids get hurt all the time this could just be an increased hazard hahaha

 

In that case, either cut the cord or only put it near a dead wall socket!!!!