Following the death of her husband, William, and burdened with debt, Josephine Cochrane decided to pursue her idea of a dishwashing machine seriously. She reasoned that a machine using water pressure to clean dishes would be both faster and gentler than hand washing.

Josephine Cochrane collaborated with George Butters, a mechanic. Together, they designed and constructed the first successful model in a shed behind her house.

Josephine Cochrane receives a patent for her dishwashing machine. This officially protects her invention and allows her to commercialize it.

Cochrane initially marketed her dishwasher to hotels and restaurants. She understood that these establishments required durable and efficient dishwashing solutions due to the high volume of dishes they processed.

Cochrane displays her dishwashing machine at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The invention garners significant attention and wins an award for “best mechanical construction, durability, and adaptation to its line of work.”

Josephine Cochrane establishes the Garis-Cochrane Manufacturing Company to produce and sell her dishwashers on a larger scale. This move signified her commitment to becoming a successful businesswoman.