Wash Board Appraisal

Vintage 'Blue Bird Easy' Glass Wash Board

This appears to be a vintage 'Blue Bird Easy' washboard, characterized by its wooden frame and a central corrugated glass scrubbing surface. The overall construction is rectangular, with two vertical wooden side rails and horizontal wooden cross pieces at the top and bottom, which hold the glass panel in place. The wood has a light, natural finish, showing signs of age and use, including some minor scuffs, light discoloration, and a small chip or imperfection on the top left edge of the upper wooden frame. The most prominent feature is the corrugated glass scrubbing surface, which has a distinctive yellowish-gold hue, indicating either a colored glass or a coating that has aged. The glass is patterned with a series of small, raised bumps or ridges arranged in a grid-like fashion, designed to agitate clothes during washing. At the top of the washboard, there is a recessed wooden panel with a faded, embossed or stenciled logo that clearly reads 'BLUE BIRD EASY' in a decorative, somewhat ornate font, with additional smaller text below, which is difficult to discern but appears to be a slogan or manufacturing detail. A small, yellow circular sticker with the number '35' (likely a price tag or inventory mark) is affixed to the upper wooden panel, partially overlapping the logo. The craftsmanship appears functional and sturdy, typical of household tools from the early to mid-20th century. The glass seems to be in good condition without significant cracks, although its transparency is obscured by the pattern and color. This item would have been used for hand-washing laundry before the widespread adoption of electric washing machines. Its age is estimated to be mid-20th century or earlier, given the design and 'Blue Bird Easy' branding, which was common during that era for such utilitarian items.