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Saturday, September 26, 2026Est. 2026. Most of what's in here is older.

Don't fix it if it ain't broke

Still Running / Laundry room

No. 0076Laundry room

c. 1925

Toyne's Rotary Clothes Line

Toyne's

Running about 101 years

The rotary line that came before the Hills Hoist

A rotary clothes hoist of Gilbert Toyne's 1926 patent design, still standing in a backyard in Parkside, Adelaide, in 2010. Not the one in the story. — A rotary clothes hoist of Gilbert Toyne's 1926 patent design, still standing in a backyard in Parkside, Adelaide, in 2010. Not the one in the story. Photo: Casonline, CC BY-SA 4.0. The real one is in the original post.

Before the Hills Hoist became the backyard fixture Australians know, there was Toyne's rotary clothes line. This one dates to 1925 or 1926 and the washing still goes on it. At its highest position it stands about 200 cm, just over its owner's head. That household has never used an electric dryer, and can't think of anyone nearby who owns one.

Retold from a post on r/BuyItForLife. Read the original

More from Laundry room

No. 0078Laundry room

Maytag washer

$169 in 1974, and the receipt is in a drawer A row of coin-operated Maytag top-loading washers in a resort laundry room in Pennsylvania. Not the one in the story.

A row of coin-operated Maytag top-loading washers in a resort laundry room in Pennsylvania. Not the one in the story.

Running 52 years

No. 0009Laundry room

GE clothes iron

A new 1950s iron, found in 2006 An old dry electric iron with no steam, from a museum collection in the Netherlands. Not a GE, and not the one in the story.

An old dry electric iron with no steam, from a museum collection in the Netherlands. Not a GE, and not the one in the story.

Running about 76 years

No. 0074Laundry room

Kenmore washer and dryer, Whirlpool series

Left behind by the last owners, 38 years in A Kenmore washer and dryer pair, photographed in 2007. Newer than the ones in the story.

A Kenmore washer and dryer pair, photographed in 2007. Newer than the ones in the story.

Running 47 years

No. 0079Laundry room

Whirlpool direct drive washer

One $6 coupler in 22 years, and spares on a shelf A Whirlpool top-loading washer with its lid up, filling with water. Not the one in the story.

A Whirlpool top-loading washer with its lid up, filling with water. Not the one in the story.

Running about 24 years