Charts and Graphs That Should Finally Make It Clear

[Adam]

Why is this thrad in the History foarum? No reason other than that it's a companion to the fun maps thrad. This is a thrad for fun or interesting charts and graphs.

Spoilering to avoid screwing with page width.

show spoiler

What happened to washers in 1939? It's not the Depression, since they were introduced basically on its eve, and ticked up steadily for a while. It's not WWII, since they had already hit a local peak and started to decline by the time the US entered the war. And it's not like they just plateaued, with no new adopters. The adoption rate dipped sharply. Did people just suddenly decide that a world where Hitler can invade Poland is a world where they need to throw their washer out ASAP?

Also, LOLVCR. I wish DVD players were included, since I'm sure they're an even more extreme case of rapid adoption and disadoption.

[Janet]

My assumption would be that they stopped making them during the war. The metal was too valuable. You see that car has a very similar dip and they definitely stopped making those during the war when the factories turned to war production.

[Megatron]

Honestly I'm shocked that the VCR is still that high. Over 50% still?

[Ensign Steve]

Sure, lots of people have VCRs. Just because you get a DVD player or Blu Ray doesn't mean you have to get rid of your old stuff. I know plenty of people with huge colletions of VHS tapes, including hard to find stuff and impossible to replace stuff like home moves. Maybe one day they will have time to transfer it to digital, but you know what helps with that? A VCR.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Janet

My assumption would be that they stopped making them during the war. The metal was too valuable. You see that car has a very similar dip and they definitely stopped making those during the war when the factories turned to war production.

The peak leads the war by a couple years, though. Rationing didn't start until 1941 and, according to Wikipedia, anyway, didn't specifically effect washing machines until June 1942. By that time, the decline was already underway. The decline for cars, on the other hand, does line up nicely with the beginning of rationing.

Originally Posted by Megatron

Honestly I'm shocked that the VCR is still that high. Over 50% still?

I dunno how the data was gathered. I mean, if you called me up and asked me if I have a VCR, I'd say yes. It's on the shelf on my closet, in case I ever need a VCR for anything. If you asked me, say, if I owned a VCR that I had used in the last year (or six), on the other hand...

[lisarea]

This is a p. good blog that may be relevant to this thrad:

Junk Charts

He features some amusingly heinous charts n' shit.

[ImGod]

Dishwasher is low.

I know several people without them. Normally, they are old farmers. With only 2 people eating they don't have a lot of dishes.

So I think it's probably old people and college kids.

[Dingfod]

A lot of poors don't have dishwashers even though they have refrigerators, tvs, and air conditioners. And, from what I've seen, a lot of poors don't do their dishes either, at least not on a regular basis.

[maddog]

Originally Posted by Adam

Why is this thrad in the History foarum? No reason other than that it's a companion to the fun maps thrad. This is a thrad for fun or interesting charts and graphs.

Spoilering to avoid screwing with page width.

show spoiler

What happened to washers in 1939? It's not the Depression, since they were introduced basically on its eve, and ticked up steadily for a while. It's not WWII, since they had already hit a local peak and started to decline by the time the US entered the war. And it's not like they just plateaued, with no new adopters. The adoption rate dipped sharply. Did people just suddenly decide that a world where Hitler can invade Poland is a world where they need to throw their washer out ASAP?

Also, LOLVCR. I wish DVD players were included, since I'm sure they're an even more extreme case of rapid adoption and disadoption.

I looked at the spoilered charts/graphs, but even clicking on the magnifier, I still can't read them. So they didn't "make it (very) clear" to me.

#2959

[Demimonde]

I would guess that the early uptick is from laundromats and laundry services adopting them. A washer is the one appliance on the list that can be used communally like that rather than just for home use.

[Dingfod]

Perhaps washing machines reached market saturation by the end of the 1930s, that most of the people that could afford them already bought them. And, because they have a service life of 12 years or so, replacements weren't needed until post-WW2, a time which more people could afford them too.

[SR71]

Originally Posted by Demimonde

can be used communally

omg socialists!

[LarsMac]

What's more interesting to me is the drop for washers and automobiles seems to have occured about the same point in mid 30's.
in the midst of the depression.

In fact in 36, the peak for both of those, the country was on the up-tick, a recovery was beginning.
Durability had a lot to do with it. in the fifties, my grandmother still used the old washer she got back when my mom was a child. And Gramp and his siblings all drove around on early 30's era cars, except for Aunt Margaret who had a brand new Chevrolet.

Washers have been going through another dip, recently. My wife and I are still using a washer dryer set we bought back in the 80's, but From what I can see, the new washers are not showing the same durability, so that trend should soon reverse.
Our daughter has already gone through three in the last five years.

[Dingfod]

Cars were not more durable back then, but they were easy to work on. Same for washing machines.

[-FX-]

Originally Posted by Dingfod

Cars were not more durable back then, but they were easy to work on. Same for washing machines.

Indeed. The Volkswagen Beetle and the Maytag washer and dryer pretty much would last a lifetime. Same for toasters, even refrigerators. Worn out parts replaced, much if it could be done by a skilled owner.

Simple design and function, no complicated electronics or safety features. But this is going off topic ...