| Another early industry in
Roanoke was washing machine manufacturing. It began back in 1909 when Alf
Altorfer was called out to repair a gasoline-powered engine. He and his
elder brother, Silas, had determined someday to be manufacturers. After
Alf had repaired the engine and was returning to Peoria the idea came to
him to make an entirely different washer, one operated by hand or driven
by an engine. After the matter was studied, discussed pros con, the
Altorfer brothers decided to make the washer. Many hours were required. The only tools the brothers had were a hand drill, a file, hack-saw and hammer. The parts were filed and fitted. So impressed were the boys with their machine that each night they would dismantle it and hide the parts so no one would suspect their invention and steal the idea. Finally, patents were applied for and the washing machine was put to test by the boys' sisters. It worked and news soon spread throughout the town. Orders began coming in for the machine and the Altorfers filled them by working after store hours. They soon outgrew their quarters in the basement of the building which today houses the Riviere Hardware and Electric. The old school house at the corner of Franklin and Ann was being torn down. The boys brought one section of it for their first factory. A drill press was purchased and an engine installed to run it. Business was booming and a salesman, Otis Darling, was hired. A washing machine was mounted on a horse-drawn wagon so that a complete washing demonstration could be carried on. Once again the business outgrew its quarters and in April of 1912, a two-story building was constructed along the Sante Fe tracks. By this time, the cost of a washing machine was $28. Other manufacturers scoffed at the price, saying no one would pay that price. But soon washing machines were being shipped out by the train-car load. Improvements were being made all the time. The 4-foot machine cost $28, the 6-foot $35. In 1912, the first swinging wringer was invented. Sales increased from 2,000 in 1911 to 4,000 in 1912, and to 7,000 in 1913. There was such a tremendous growth in business at this time that the business outgrew the town and so the Altorfers built in Peoria where a growing business could be better handled. On February 12, 1914, the two-story building was destroyed by fire. Approximately 20 men were out of work, but by May of 1914 a one-story factory was constructed and parts were assembled here, while the main assembly was done in Peoria. The factory continued making parts except during World War II, when it was closed down. It was reopened after the war and continued until the early 1950's when it was again closed down. It was sold in 1954 to Nach-Kelvinator. Some of the early employees were Martin Stryker, Emil Keller, Ralph Darnell, D. R. Wilson, J. E. Claudin, William Ladendorf, C. H. Gish, Henry Blottiaux, Carl Heintz, Michael Weyeneth, Joseph Beer, Gottlieb Hasler, August Salzman, E. L. McGlaughlin, William LeConte, Theodor Graffleman, and Antone Rather. Mary and Lois Altorfer, Henry, Silsa and Alf Altorfer worked in the office. William Ladendorf worked for 43 years in the factory. At one time he was earning 27 1/2 cents an hour for a 10-hour day. When he retired, his wages were $1.57. Ladendorf was known as a one-man assembly line, making two machines a day when he first began to work for the firm. He retired June 8, 1956, having worked the longest of any employee.
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