1. "Lizzie Borden's clothes dryer"
Posted by harry on Nov-6th-02 at 6:55 PM

E-bay has the following item on auction:

It can be seen at:

You too can hang your Bedford cord up to dry. 

That would be pretty cool to own, if anyone had that
kind of spending money.

Oh wow!  What an interesting find Harry!  To actually touch or hold something that our own Lizbeth did, dried her stockings and unmentionables on, too cool!  Thanks.  I wonder why it was sold from the museum in the first place? 

I read the directions on how to become a real time auctioneer with eBay/Southeby's. It seems you have to pay $1500 bucks up front to post on this auction site. This seller has not sold anything in a great long time----well longer than 90 days, so you can't see the other items that the feedback they have refers to.

When I do an ebay search of the seller, I find they are currently selling over 1400 items right now. That is a big job!! And quite a diverse collection of stuff too.


The sale ad says this:
"514. LIZZIE BORDEN'S "FAVORITE" CLOTHES DRYER! LIZZIE BORDEN (1860 - 1927) American schoolteacher accused of the 1892 axe murders of her parents, acquitted after a hugely-publicized sensational trial. A fine and interesting Borden relic, a foldable, wall-mounted wooden Favorite Clothes Dryer measuring 30" tall, with eight wooden "arms" measuring 27" long and 3/4" wide which fold out from the top of the device to receive the wet clothing or linens. This item was in Borden's home from 1897-1927, and was previously prominently displayed at the Lizzie Borden Museum in Fall River, Ma. from 1995-1999. Sold with a signed certificate of provenance from George E. Quigley, former curator of the Lizzie Borden Museum and Maplecroft Museum. In very good, working order, with little wear. A truly unusual find!$600-800"

Note the "American schoolteacher" career description and the fact that it was in "Borden's home from 1897-1927". But it does not say which Borden home. Are we to assume it was at Maplecroft? And why would the B&B sell it? I am not saying its provenance is in question, but I personally need more proof than a certificate of authenticity.

(Message last edited Nov-7th-02  12:27 AM.)

I'm almost certain it was up for auction in the past. I remember the photo, a different one from the one shown here, being in color.

The wood was quite rich looking if I remember correctly. Shoulda saved that photo.

It says it was attached to the wall.  I can't figure out why the arms are so close to each other.

I am wondering if those arms are on rachets, and they can be swung out and locked.

Do we believe that Lizzie still laundered her own handkerchiefs and hung them up?

That is a fancy version of the one I've got under the kitchen sink.
It does look about like those with the swinging
arms. I'm sure she wasn't scrubbing her clothes on a washboard,
but even if she never used it herself it would still be pretty
nice to have.