Before tumble dryers entered the picture, the humble clothespin had its day in the sun. Of course, doing the laundry goes back centuries. In the earliest of times wash was done in nearby rivers or streams, or in a tub with water hauled from a well or spring. In those days, wash was dried in the sun on rocks or bushes, or laid over a clothesline. A fair target to be blown away by the wind.
I've heard of clothespins being use in range of motion physical therapy for people recovering from shoulder surgery. Clip a clothespin to the base of a yardstick and then unclip it and move it up 1". Keep going until you reach the top, or as far as your shoulder can go. Sounds like a tortuous (but effective) use of clothespins!
Like everyone else in the 40s and 50s we had a clothes line and my job was to ensure that we always had a good supply of clothes pins. We kids also used them to attach baseball cards to the wheels of our bikes so that we could have way cool and loud whirring sounds when we pedaled around town.
What a great memory! Yes, I remember helping my mother with the laundry too. But having two much older sisters, my job was to pick up the clothespins that fell on the grass!
I've heard of clothespins being use in range of motion physical therapy for people recovering from shoulder surgery. Clip a clothespin to the base of a yardstick and then unclip it and move it up 1". Keep going until you reach the top, or as far as your shoulder can go. Sounds like a tortuous (but effective) use of clothespins!
That's fascinating. So many uses for clothespins!
Like everyone else in the 40s and 50s we had a clothes line and my job was to ensure that we always had a good supply of clothes pins. We kids also used them to attach baseball cards to the wheels of our bikes so that we could have way cool and loud whirring sounds when we pedaled around town.
Thanks, John. Yes I remember that clicking/whirring sound. We didn't use baseball cards. Just regular playing cards.
They made great toys! My brother and I used to use them much like Erector Sets.
Thanks for sharing your memory. I never used them for building things, but did make clothespin chains to teach my brother how to count.
In the 1950’s, my 3 siblings and I spent plenty of time hanging up the laundry on the clothes
line!.. and of course then taking it down when it was dry! Mother was pleased to have so many helpers!
What a great memory! Yes, I remember helping my mother with the laundry too. But having two much older sisters, my job was to pick up the clothespins that fell on the grass!
I'm sure my Dad has a few of those "pegs" in the basement. He uses the newer version as "chip clips"
Yes indeed!.. I often use them on chip bags! Perfect!