Final answer:
Examples of home appliances from the early twentieth century include radios, phonographs, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and refrigerators.
Step-by-step explanation:
Home appliances refer to the various electrical or mechanical machines which we commonly use in our households. During the period of technological innovation influenced by greater access to electricity, several key home appliances were developed. These devices, designed to make domestic work more efficient, include radios, phonographs, vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and refrigerators. Not only did these appliances provide practical solutions for housework, but they also reflected a change in societal expectations and standards of domestic work.
For instance, the introduction of innovative cookstoves made it possible to prepare multiple dishes simultaneously, thanks to different temperature controls and built-in water reservoirs. Washing machines with mangles using rollers to squeeze out water, and motor-powered vacuum cleaners, also transformed everyday tasks. While these appliances were indeed labor-saving, they also resulted in higher domestic standards, leading to increased expectations of cleanliness and more elaborate meals to be prepared daily. Overall, such appliances significantly changed life at home, particularly for middle-class women at the time.