First commercial dishwashing machineIn 1889, the first commercial dishwashing machine was marketed in Chicago, designed over a number of years by Josephine Cochrane. She was granted U.S. patent No.355,139 on 28 Dec 1886 (when she spelled her last name Cochran). She received an award for her invention at the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. The company she founded to sell the dishwasher to hotels, restaurants and other commercial groups was purchased in the 1920's by the Hobart Corporation. They introduced (1949) the "KitchenAid" brand name that is known today. Other dishwashing machine patents had been issued, starting with a hand-cranked device patented by Joel Houghton on 14 May 1850, but Cochrane marketed her design successfully.« |
