Until I was about 6 or 7 we had an English Electric washing machine, not quite as old as the one you linked to Mme Cholet, but it was a top loader and it had an auto spin cycle. I don't know if the brand exist anymore. We have very good washing machines these days, but our clothes turned out clean then too :- )
Yes, but I think the older ones had a hose connecting to the sink, didn't they?
The washers here are good now. The dryers aren't too bad either. I just bought one about a month ago and I've rewashed everything in sight simply to soften and defluff! Civilisation at last!