Ellen Eglin was an African American woman who invented the mechanical clothes wringer. Back then, people did not have a lot of options to wash clothes. The device had two rollers constructed in a frame and these were connected to a crank. These rollers had two wooden pins lying on top of each other. These pins rolled the moment the handle was turned and water was pressed out of the clothes.

Early life

Ellen Eglin was born in Washington, D.C. in 1849. She earned a living by working as a government clerk and a housekeeper. She observed women washing their clothes in rivers and water basins using rocks and stones. The women hurt their hands while scrubbing the fabrics and it was then that she started considering inventing the clothes wringer.

Inventions

Eglin’s wringer made it easier for women to squeeze soap, dirt, and water out of fabrics. Sarah Boone – an inventor that obtained patent rights for improvements made on the ironing board –was inspired by Eglin’s accomplishments. Madam C.J. Walker, widely known for her successful line of hair products, also followed in Eglin’s footsteps.

During Eglin’s time, black women were discriminated against and couldn’t obtain patents for their inventions. This compelled Eglin to sell out her patent for only $18 dollars to a white woman. Had she not sold it out, white women wouldn’t have bought her wringer. The inventor came up with an important piece but reaped quite little in terms of the associated financial gain. Due to racism and exploitation, the woman that purchased her invention ended up reaping significant financial rewards from it.

Eglin had a second creation and wanted to patent it. However, it was impossible because she failed to attend the Women’s International Industrial Inventors Congress. This was where women showcased their inventions and Eglin did not register either of her inventions.

Eglin’s contribution to the rights of women inventors

The unfortunate incident of Eglin not reaping the financial rewards from her invention caught American reformer Charlotte Odlum Smith’s attention. Back then, Smith was the authority on women’s work conditions. She started researching similar cases for about 10 years. She thought that Eglin should have benefited from her invention and not its buyer as was the case. She attended different forums communicating the need to recognize and reward the efforts of black women inventors thanks to Eglin’s misfortune.

Eglin wanted her second invention patented and attributed to a black woman inventor, something that would inspire African American women. Eglin knew how evil segregation of Negro women was and wanted to contribute towards change. At the time, men were the ones that took credit for any achievements their wives made. That meant that black female inventors of that era had a difficult path to being to patent, take credit for, and benefit from their brilliant inventions.

The earliest existence of the commercial washing machines can be traced back to 1861 in England. However, it was Eglin’s invention that first raised awareness regarding more efficient ways to launder and care for clothing. Eglin’s invention made work easier for women and even saved them a much time.