Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - May 6, 1984
By Gwen Hart

Old waffle makers demanded skill and quick, strong arms

There was quite a knack to wielding a waffle maker like the one on display in the historical Museum of the Wabash Valley.

This interesting early American iron, a five by seven inch oblong, has designs molded on each side to produce framed pictures on the finished waffle. Each side of the iron is divided into small blocks containing delicately carved designs. A church with a steeple, several animals, fruits, flowers, and house and a butterfly are all molded in separate frames.

The same pictures are used on both sides of the waffle maker, but they are not in the same location on the iron. Therefore, a separate mold had to have been made in the original casting.

The intricate delicacy of the designs is in sharp contrast to the feel of the waffle maker itself, with its two-foot long handles and sturdy single-hinge bolt.

Waffle irons of this type were not uncommon in the colonial kitchen. They were frequently given by the bridegroom to his bride as a wedding gift. When used for this occasion the initials of the bridegroom would be included in the designs on one side of the baker, the initials of the bride on the opposite side.

To make the waffle, the closed iron was heated in the coals for several minutes. When hot, the hinged end was rested on a thick wooden board and the iron was opened by dropping the lower handle and anchoring it with one knee. A small amount of batter was spooned into the iron, it was closed quickly, and the waffle cooked while the iron rested on the board. The iron wasn't returned to the coals with the waffle in it. In fact, a skilled waffle maker could cook more than one waffle from a single heating of the iron. This was a great advantage, because of the iron's heavy weight. Lifting this waffle baker was not easy as the hostesses at the museum can verify.

The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St. is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday through Friday.