Historic Treasure of the Week - May 23, 1992
By Cindy Weir and Tim Weir
Vigo County Historical Society
Historic Treasure of the Week - May 23, 1992
By Cindy Weir and Tim Weir
Vigo County Historical Society
Irons used by variety of early cultures
"Oh, no! It’s Tuesday!" was an often-heard phrase in days gone by.
Monday was wash day and Tuesday was ironing day--the day when most all clothing, bedclothes and other fabric articles in the house had to be ironed. This meant heating the big iron cookstove in the kitchen, then heating the sadirons, as the implements were called.
I really think the term should have been "sadironer." Another common name for this appliance was "flatiron."
The irons seem primitive to us, but the ancient Chinese were known to use brass irons with wooden or bone handles. The Vikings who invaded England used smooth stones.
Another early development was called a "slickenstone." It resembled a glass mushroom, and was similar to a darning egg. The slickenstone was rubbed over the washing to give it a smooth, shiny finish.
The word sadiron came from an old word that meant solid. Sadirons were fairly difficult to use, as they had to be heated in the open fire or on the cookstove. The handles often were made as part of the iron and became hot.
In 1871, Mrs. Potts, an American woman, patented an iron with a removable wooden handle. This iron came with one handle and several irons that could be left heating while another was in use.
Before an iron could be used, it had to be cleaned of soot and smoke. This was done with waxed paper or brown paper.
In commercial laundries and some very large homes, special small stoves were used to heat several irons at one time. Very heavy irons, weighing from 10 pounds to 20 pounds, were used in tailor shops.
Several difference irons might be used on a single piece of clothing, beginning with the sadiron for the basic pressing. Lace irons or fluting irons were used for cuffs and collars. Tally irons and finishing irons also were used. Ruffles were pressed with the goffering or crimping iron. Slick pages of paper were used when ironing items that needed a glossy finish.
Some irons had a hinged door on the back so the iron could be filled with charcoal or hot embers from the fireplace.
The first electric irons were made in 1894 in England by the City of London Lighting Co. In 1913, General Electric advertised an iron that could be leaned back on its heel, eliminating any need for a trivet.
Spirit irons operated on gasoline or methylated spirits. These irons were about as safe as bombs, and operators frequently lost fingers and hands.
Thank goodness for drip-dry and permanent-press clothing!
Several examples of irons are displayed in the General Store in the basement of the museum.
The Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley, 1411 S. Sixth St., is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.