Alva john fisher biography

The Thor washing machine was the first electric clothes washer sold commercially in the United States. Produced by the Chicago-based Hurley Electric Laundry Equipment Company, the 1907 Thor is believed to be the first electrically powered washer ever manufactured, crediting Hurley as the inventor of the first automatic washing machine.

Designed by Hurley engineer Alva J. Fisher, a patent for the new electric Thor was issued on August 9, 1910, three years after its initial invention.^[1]

The idea of an automatic washing machine had been around for many years.

However, these were crude mechanical efforts that typically involved a manually operated crank or similar design.^[2] In many ways, the patent of the new Thor washer sounds modern, even today.

Alva john fisher biography wikipedia

The patent states that a "perforated cylinder is rotatably mounted within the tub containing the wash water". A series of blades lifted the clothes as the cylinder rotated. After 8 rotations i