Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Working at the Car Wash!

DOLLY'S
CAR WASH    

On a hot summer day, there is perhaps nothing as cooling to the spirits as running your car through a car wash--I take my 1997 Toyota to Dolly's on Rte. 40--and enjoy the flapping and suds, lights and energy of it every time!  Sure, you can wash it yourself and save the $9 or so, but the sound and light show is over-the-top FUN! 

9430 Baltimore National Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042 410-461-5188





Then, vacuuming the car and trunk using a few quarters, it's all over.  The car always seems to run better after a Dolly's experience! You may even want to treat your car to an AIR FRESHENER.  I like the Royal Pine!


Long-time Ellicott City resident, Sally Bright--now residing in Cambridge, Maryland--notes: "Dolly's has been around for more than 40 years. It was once part of an ice cream parlor and carryout! We used to go there a lot on a summer evening. A tradition like the Enchanted Forest."




Enjoy Jazz Vocalist
Denee Barr's rockin' rendition of Car Wash...



...hey, get your car washed today


The cloth beaters. Rhythm!
be in our band, you don't have to pay
come on and give us a play.
get it washed right away

At the carwash
talking about the carwash yeah
come on y'all and sing it for me
car wash woh
car wash yeah


...those cars never seem to stop coming
keeps those rags and machines coming
let me tell you it's always cool

Just a blur now!

Soon, you can't see out the window...that's really the best part, with the soap and water!

At the carwash
talking about the carwash yeah
come on y'all and sing it for me
car wash woh
car wash yeah



Nearing the end...


View over the steering wheel after car wash


Then, on to the vacuuming area!

Brief HISTORY of the Car Wash
Courtesy, International Car Wash Association.

The Detroit News reports that the first automatic car wash in the U.S. opened in 1946, appropriately enough, the painted sign on that building in the motor city read "First Automatic Auto Wash in the World, Established 1946."

Prior to the development of the automatic car wash...back in the days of the sponge and bucket, two enterprising Detroit businessmen opened a car wash, where the car was brought into a line and pushed by hand through circular type of operation described as a "Merry-Go-Round." This was around 1914, and human power was required in pushing cars around the circle for the various phases of the car wash.

....Growth of the industry before World War I was slow...considering the fact that before the war there were fewer than one million cars in the United States. After World War I, the number of automobiles leaped to five million, and by 1925, there were 20 million cars in the nation.

One of the industry's historians reports that around 1928 the idea of a mechanical, chain-pulled car wash evolved, resulting in the first true "conveyer" car wash. Our involvement in World War II slowed certain kinds of technological development--the car wash industry proceeded at a slow pace. However, after World War II, the industry grew quickly, and the need for a trade association was obvious.

In 1955, a group of 40 or 75 car wash professionals (depending on which historical documents you read) met at the Hotel Del Prado in Mexico City to officially form the Automatic Car Wash Association (ACWA). It became recognized throughout the world for its activities on behalf of the industry. ACWA was later renamed the International Carwash Association (ICA).
____________________________

DOLLY's Car Wash may certainly be considered another local "icon," affirming the sense of continuity over time for so many area residents.  When you take your car in to wash it--or be washed--you will feel that sense of the past and community spirit.
hocoblogs@@@

Blog content/photos: Kay Weeks
Song by Denee Barr





For more information, go to:
http://www.dollyscarwash.com/


Open every day
Featuring: Polishing, Self Service, Vacuuming
In business since 1975
·                 

5 comments:

Denée Barr Art News and More said...

Hey, hey, hey``````Car Wash!
Enjoyed the posting and all the little details...>>>>>>>>>>Denée

Kay Weeks said...

It was just as much fun working with you, Denee!

Anonymous said...

Dolly's has been around for more than 40 years. It was once part of an ice cream parlor and carryout! We used to go there a lot on a summer evening. A tradition like the Enchanted Forest.

Sally Bright,
Cambridge, MD

Anonymous said...

Yes we've done the Pink Elephant since being here but that Denny/Mercer spot is so bizarre to figure out how to get in and out.

Once I found out that car washes use less water than if I washed my car at home - I've never gone back to washing.

Thank you for sharing.

Erwin Calverley said...

Yeah, using a pine-scented air freshener is the best way to keep your car smelling crisp and fresh. I like taking my ride to the car wash because there's nothing like driving a clean and shiny car.