Dishwasher History: A Timeline of an Appliance Favorite

With the advent of electricity and a decline in household servants helping in the kitchen, appliances began to gradually come into use. Today, many people still hand-wash all of their kitchenware, but there is a significant amount of us who take for granted the luxury of having a machine that washes and dries our dishes for us. So, when did the dishwasher come about? Let's take a look at the progression of one of our prized kitchen helpers.

Kitchenaid Coffee Maker

Believe it or not, the first product to resemble what was to become the modern dishwasher was patented by one Joel Houghton in 1850. That's right, before the Civil War, people were thinking about how to lighten the burden of household chores. While it was just a wooden machine with a hand-turned wheel that splashed water on dishes, it was a start in the right direction.

Kitchenaid Coffee Maker

"If nobody else is going to invent a dishwashing machine, I'll do it myself."

So proclaimed Josephine Cochran in 1886. Engineering was in her blood, as her father John Fitch was the inventor of the steamboat. Cochran unveiled her invention at the 1893 World's Fair, but it was only the hotels and restaurants that show interest in buying her idea. Cochran's design had racks to hold plates, saucers and cups.

By today's standards, her invention is of course primitive. But Cochran's hand-operated mechanical dishwasher did an adequate job. The company she founded to manufacture her dishwashers went on to become KitchenAid.

Once indoor plumbing became more prevalent and could be used in conjunction with dishwashers in the 1920s, appliance makers Miele pushed the dishwasher further into the future.

"In 1929, we launched Europe's first electric top-loading dishwasher ready for series production," says Neil Pooley, Miele's group product manager.

But the stock market crash brought on the Great Depression, which made selling a luxury item virtually impossible. In 1937, the dishwasher that most resembles what we know them to be now was invented by William Howard Livens. This machine had a front door for loading, a rotating sprayer and wire racks. In 1940, electric elements used for drying the dishes were incorporated into the design.

It would be several decades before the dishwasher became a practical item for most homes, due to their steep pricing. After Miele introduced the first automated dishwasher in 1960, the cost of a dishwasher was still out of reach for most people. For example, an RCA dishwasher in 1966 went for as much as 8. When considering inflation, that would be more than ,500 in today's money.

But like most inventions that created enough demand, the price of dishwashers gradually came down, and by the time the '80s rolled around, it became one of the most popular kitchen appliances in America.

Dishwasher History: A Timeline of an Appliance Favorite
Kitchenaid Coffee Maker

Christmas Sales Cuisinart DCC-1100PK 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Pink 201

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Cuisinart DCC-1100PK 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Pink

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Christmas Sales Cuisinart DCC-1100PK 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Pink Feature

  • Fully automatic coffeemaker with 24-hour programmability and adjustable auto-shutoff from 0 to 4 hours
  • 12-Cup carafe with ergonomic handle, dripless spout, and knuckle guard
  • 1- to 4-Cup setting, brew pause feature, self clean and 60-second reset
  • Includes: Charcoal water filter and permanent gold tone filter that ensures only the freshest coffee flavor flows through. Measuring scoop. Instruction book
  • Measures approximately 8 by 8 by 14-1/4 inches; 3-Year limited warranty


Christmas Sales Cuisinart DCC-1100PK 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Pink Overview

This classically designed coffeemaker is accented with stainless steel for a look that is sure to enhance your countertop. The 12-Cup carafe features an ergonomic handle, dripless pour spout and knuckle guard for comfortable pouring. Fully automatic, the DCC-1100 has 24-hour programmability adjustable auto-shutoff from 0 to 4 hours, self clean and 1-4 cup setting for those times when you don’t need a full pot of coffee. The Brew Pause feature lets you pour a cup before brewing is completed, while the permanent gold tone coffee filter and charcoal water filter ensure fresh, delicious tasting coffee.



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Cuisinart DCC-1100PK 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Pink

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