Invention of the Dishwasher: the First Dishwashers
The earliest dishwasher was patented not by Josephine Cochran, but by Joel Houghton, in 1850. Fifteen years later, L.A. Alexander patented an improved version of it. Neither were very effective, because they worked by splashing water on spinning dishes. Then, in 1886, Josephine Cochran patented her dishwasher, which worked differently, and, most importantly, much better, using a design concept still used today (Dishwasher History).