Emily Flores
Before tech went digital, households ran on unusual machines that sound almost unbelievable now. They were practical, sometimes awkward, and absolutely necessary for getting things done around the house. Each one tells a story about how families solved problems in their own time. Wondering what made the cut back then? Here are 10 old appliances you never knew people relied on.
Wringer Washer
These washing machines were usually located wherever water was available, such as in kitchens or even outside. After washing clothes, you manually pushed them through two spinning rollers to squeeze out water. The best part? Some models had attachments that turned them into butter-making machines when needed.
Stove-Top Percolator Coffee Pot
Percolator coffee pots worked by boiling water on the stove. The hot water traveled up through a tube, poured over coffee grounds, then fell back down to repeat the process. This created a distinctive bubbling noise and made a very strong, rich-tasting coffee that was different from drip coffee makers.
Icebox Refrigerator
Long before electric refrigerators, families kept food cool in wooden iceboxes lined with metal. Large blocks of ice were delivered and placed inside, slowly melting while keeping milk, butter, and meat fresh. Kids often loved grabbing chips of ice as a treat on hot days, making the icebox both practical and memorable.
Hand-Crank Egg Beater
Back then, if you were tired of beating eggs by hand with a spoon, the hand-crank egg beater solved this problem using simple mechanics. Turn the crank, and the gears made the beaters spin fast to whip eggs perfectly. Some even had bowl attachments for easier mixing until electric versions took over kitchens.
Tabletop Butter Churner
Before modern appliances, families made their own butter using these small churners on their kitchen tables. You’d crank a handle to make paddles stir the cream till it became butter. The fresh butter was so much richer and creamier than anything you could buy at stores.
Foot-Treadle Sewing Machine
Foot-treadle sewing machines worked by pedal power instead of electricity. You pumped with your feet to control exactly how fast the needle moved. The bonus? They were gorgeous, too, with decorative iron bases and pretty painted details that made them look like expensive furniture.
Soda Siphon Carbonator
People didn’t always have fizzy drinks available everywhere. Some made their own with soda siphons. These wire-covered glass bottles used CO₂ cartridges to instantly carbonate plain water. Just press the lever and instantly—sparkling water for homemade sodas and cocktails whenever you want them.
Hand-Crank Meat Grinder
Hand-crank meat grinders turned big pieces of meat into ground meat without electricity. They attached to your counter with a strong clamp so they wouldn’t move. Turn the handle, and the machine chopped up meat, vegetables, or even nuts into whatever size you needed.
Mechanical Toasting Iron (Toaster Tong/Clamshell)
When you needed toast but had no toaster, handheld metal clamps provided the answer. All you had to do was put bread between the plates and hold it over the heat—stove, fireplace, whatever worked. You got golden toast one slice at a time, plus they warmed pastries and made grilled sandwiches.
Hand-Crank Ice Cream Maker
Making ice cream was a family activity with those hand-crank machines. Everyone took turns spinning the handle while salt and ice packed around the container did the freezing work. After lots of cranking, you’d have a full gallon of creamy, cold ice cream to share together.