The first automatic washing machine in the USSR

Housewives in Europe and America had the advantage of automatic washing machines since the 1940s. But women in the Soviet Union had it less easy. The first automatic washing machine appeared in the USSR in 1975, and mass production only began in the mid-1980s. Let's explore the history of the "washing" revolution in the USSR, its key stages, events, and patterns.

Introducing Soviet citizens to automatic machines

In the late 1970s, the Soviet population first encountered an automatic washing machine. The "Vyatka-Avtomat," as it was called, began production in Kirov at a special facility built by the Italian company Merloni specifically for this purpose. These washing machines were a complete copy of Ariston units. Unsurprisingly, demand for the new technology broke all records; compared to the semi-automatic machines used previously, it was a real treat. There was no need to rinse, wash, or wring by hand; the new machine did it all automatically.

The Vyatka prototype was released in 1980, featuring 12 different programs. Following successful testing, the factory produced the first batch of 100 units on February 23, 1981. The machine could be purchased at retail for $4.95, which at that time was a huge sum, equivalent to the average salary. Then the price was reduced slightly (to $400).

Important! It's noteworthy that one of the first advertisements in the traditional sense of the word to appear on Soviet television was dedicated specifically to Vyatka.

It was freely available, but required providing the housing office with a certificate confirming the wiring's compliance with power consumption standards. This type of wiring was found in buildings built after 1978.

The history of typewriters in the USSR

In fact, the very first washing machines appeared in the USSR long before the era of stagnation. As early as the 1920s, party officials imported these "household helpers" from America, but as for ordinary people, until the 1950s, they had virtually no idea such a technological marvel even existed. Let's look at the key milestones in the development of washing machines in the USSR.

• Back in the 1950s, the Riga plant produced the EAYA-2 and 3 series of machines, which retailed for $600 but were unavailable to the general public. The second generation of machines from the same plant was called the "Riga-54" and had a capacity of 2.5 kg. The "Riga-55," released a little later, was a complete copy of the Swedish model, brought back from an exhibition by the plant's chief engineer.
• The first washing machine with a timer in the USSR rolled off the assembly line at the same Kirov plant—the very first Vyatka. This happened in 1966. Water had to be filled and drained manually, and the timer controlled the wash duration. The design consisted of a huge cylindrical tank with a screw in the bottom, which powered the machine.
• The Cheboksary Chapaev Plant soon produced the first semi-automatic sewing machine in the Soviet Union, the "Volga-8." Some families still own units of this model.

Semi-automatic washing machines were equipped with wringer rollers, but they were not particularly convenient and were rarely used in everyday life. However, a few years later, the first ZVI automatic machines with a centrifugal wringer appeared.

The early 1970s saw the introduction of the first Eureka sewing machines. Compared to previous models, this was a technological breakthrough. The washing machine was already equipped with an automatic drain system, spinning without removing the laundry, and a drum-type tank.

By the 1980s, automatic Vyatka washing machines were already becoming common, though they were still in short supply. If someone had one, it became a local landmark. Washing machines only became a regular part of our compatriots' lives with their entry into the international market and the introduction of imported models.

   

1 reader comment

1. August 2, 2021 at 7:52 PM

   Nick:

   In the 1970s, during the USSR-GDR project, an excellent automatic top-loading washing machine, the "Chisinau," was produced in Chisinau. I saw it myself in the GDR. The Germans were very pleased. But in Chisinau, it was in short supply. The "Vyatka Avtomat" wasn't even close.

   Answer