– photo courtesy of theoldmotor.com
This is a post I did a few years ago; I hope you enjoy it!
I am utterly impressed by the ingenuity of the, “Auto Wash Bowl” in the picture above. And what a wash bowl it was! First appearing in St. Paul, Minnesota, the bowl soon became a hit on the Chicago car circuit (circa 1924).
Chicago’s answer to bathtubs for big cars arrived in the form of a large basin-shaped construction. At a reasonable price of just 25 cents, an attendant would place a cover over the car’s radiator to protect it from the car cleansing! Car owners would then drive ‘into’ the bowl, complete several circular laps while the ridged concrete of the bowl removed some of the mud and dirt from the vehicle’s undercarriage.
– photo courtesy of picasaweb.google.com
Interesting the car in the above newspaper ad is referred to as, “Henry”, don’t you think? Ah, Mr. Henry Ford, methinks you’ve had more than your fair share of motorized monikers!
A resounding, “Everybody out of the pool” was heard (just kidding; but it would be rather funny, don’t you think?). For those who needed the deluxe cleaning, a quick drive out of the bowl and into a service bay was in order, where an attendant would take over to, ‘finish the job’ (I did say it was the, “Chicago Way” now, didn’t I?). *grin*
For those who wanted to jump in with both feet (and car), you, yes YOU could own your very own automatic, automobile bathing bowl:
– photo courtesy of picasaweb.google.com
Ah, Saturdays at the ‘ol Auto Wash Bowl; good, clean, car fun!
what possible problems could there be with this concept?
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I can’t think of a single one Anthony, can you? *grin* Cher xo
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This is very funny. I have never seen this. It seems me, the water does not go over the upper side of the car. A nice weekend.
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Hi Annie! It is funny, isn’t it? No, you are right! I don’t know how the cars got completely clean! Thank you, I hope you have a nice weekend, too! Cher xo
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I remember that post very well… as soon as I saw the first photo!
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LOL Well I thought everyone could use some laughs, so I decided to ‘clean it’, and bring it out of the ‘wash’ to post again! Hahahaha Cher xo
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Hehe… I enjoyed your post dusting 😁
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Ah, thank you my dear!! Cher xo
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How funny! Surely that would wreck an engine. Water collates to that level in my village in the ford sometimes and cars usually (but not always) about turn in horror at possible damage.
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Oh dear! I can only imagine what that would do to an engine, Lana! I am wondering if (and definitely this will show my lack of car knowledge!) due to the lack of complexity ‘back then’ resulted in very little damage? I’m not sure, but it certainly does look funny, doesn’t it? Cher xo
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Maybe as the cars went along so slowly in those days, they would not notice a flagging engine too much?!
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Now that is a good theory, Lana!
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I remember this wonderful post – good to revisit.
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Why thanks so much, Hilary! I find unusual, historical inventions to be quite amusing at times! Cher xo
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