– photo courtesy of theoldmotor.com
Please be my guest and look more closely at the above photo. I’ll be more than happy to wait!
Ah, you’re back! Great! I was utterly impressed by the “Auto Wash Bowl” ingenuity.” And what a wash bowl it was!
First appearing in St. Paul, Minnesota, the bowl soon became a hit on the Chicago car circuit.
Chicago’s answer to bathtubs for big cars arrived in the form of a sizeable basin-shaped construction. For just 25 cents, an attendant would place a cover over the car’s radiator to protect it from the car’s cleansing!
Car owners would then drive ‘into’ the bowl and 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
Interestingly, the car in the above newspaper ad is called “Henry.” Ah, Mr. Henry Ford, I think you’ve had many 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 anyone 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!
This is such a fun idea, I’ve seen this somewhere before. It doesn’t do anything for the top side of the car does it! I wonder if there any of these bowls left…
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Hi John! You might have seen it on my blog, as I posted it in the past, but thought it would make a nice “Throwback Thursday” post! No, I don’t think it does! I don’t think there are any of these left, but it sure would be cool if there were! Thank you, John! Cher xoxoxo
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You may be right, Cher! Today’s cars would be swamped as they sit so much lower than the old time cars. Stay dry! 😂
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Definitely, John! LOL Cher xoxoxo
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Looks like fun, Cher. I see it began in my hometown of St. Paul. I wonder where it was located.
My kid brother found a similar way to wash a car I just bought. He skidded around a curve on the River Road and ended up in the Mississippi River.
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Hi Don! Well now that has me wondering too, Don! If I can find out, I’ll certainly let you know! What? Oh my goodness, Don! Please tell me your brother (and your car) were okay? Cher xoxoxo
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My brother was okay, a little cold and very wet. He might not have gotten to safety if a neighbor hadn’t seen the tracks to the river and happened to have a couple extension cords that he tied together and threw to my brothet.
The car I gave to the towing company to tow it out. Darn, it had cost me 100 bucks that very morning.
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Wow, Don! Thank goodness a neighbor had the extension cords and saw the tracks in the first place!
I’m sorry you had just paid 100 that very morning! This sounds this a story to be written, Don! Cher xoxoxo
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Good idea, Cher
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🙂 xoxoxo
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I take it the top of the car did not get washed lol As the saying goes there is one born every minute. lol What an interesting post. You put a smile on my face which is a positive attribute. Better than the poison which is the alternative. I always put the positive. I wish you a wonderful week ahead heading into the weekend. Stay blessed. Much love Joseph.
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No, I don’t think it did, Joseph! LOL Why thank you so much, my friend! I love the positive too as you know! And to you as well! Thank you, Joseph, and much love back to you! Cher xoxoxo
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Lots of punny business going on here! What a kick! Nice to know my grandparents generation had a sense of humor!
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LOL Ah, thank you, JT! If this ‘wash bowl’ is any indication, then they most certainly did, JT! Thank you! Cher xoxoxo
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Ha ha. That is so funny. Can you imagine doing that today?
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I can’t even, Michelle! LOL Cher xoxoxo
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;>)
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