ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Domestic appliances

I came across this table in a 30-year-old book about the United States. It would be interesting to see the current percentage of American homes with each of these appliances.

Great post!!
My work is almost exclusively homes built in the 1950s. I often have wondered if in fact many of our present day appliances were present back then due to the observation that all of the circuits that I have bumped into in these homes are "spread thin" by todays standards. Looking at the chart above, this is understandable.

A lot has changed since 1971. The list includes a radio and a coffee maker but does not include personal computer, home audio equipment, home theater equipment, or video game consoles.

Microwaves also.

Paul, how would you think the UK numbers compared in those times?

Roger

Tried pulling info for '95 to include here, but the Census website is using weird file formats. Found this at medialive.ie

Percentage / Households with % % %
'87 '94/5 '99/0
Clothes Dryer 21.8 26.3 42.0
Washing Machine 77.1 85.6 93.4
Dishwasher 7.6 18.7 32.0
Microwave Oven 6.3 46.6 71.5
Television Set(s) - Owned 61.2 88.2 96.2
Two or more TV Sets 14.0 28.4 49.0
Video Player 16.9 60.9 85.0
Stereo (Whole / Part) 42.6 51.7 66.2
Home Computer 6.1 16.0 29.3


[This message has been edited by DougW (edited 03-30-2004).]

I've tried a few searches, but not been able to find any data back as far as the 1950s. In general though, it's pretty safe to say that the U.K. percentages would have been quite a bit less than than the U.S. figures.

The following document contains a table covering 1970 to 2000 (table on page 27):
www.dti.gov.uk/energy/inform/energy_consumption/ecuk.pdf

Notice that the percentage of British homes with a washing machine and refrigerator in 1970 was lower than the equivalent 1953 American ownership!

The one high-power appliance where the U.K. would lead is the electric kettle, practically universal here (something to do with tea ), but not a common feature in many American kitchens.

Air conditioning is still very rare in homes here, but of course that's down to the climate.

Some of us are trying to redress the balance Paul. Thank goodness it's rated 50/60Hz!