Invention of the Dishwasher: a Motivation
"My invention relates to an improvement in machines for washing dishes" (Cochran's patent in 1886). |
Unlike some women, Josephine Cochran did not do a lot of housework. Servants worked in her house - and caused her to want to invent the dishwasher (Karwatka, 12).
When Cochran noticed that the servants who washed her fine china were chipping it, she took on the responsibility of washing it herself. This led to an idea of a dishwasher, which could wash over 200 dishes in two minutes, and used water pressure instead of wheels. Water pressure is the method used to wash dishes today, and the idea can be credited to Josephine Cochran (Vare and Ptacek, 38-39). |