General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Cast iron, steel, Brass-plated iron shield. Wooden handle.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

22.7 cm

Width

20.5 cm

Height

9.5 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Domestic Technology

Category

Laundry

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Pease

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Ohio

City

Cincinnati

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

This type of iron presumably used throughout North America from the mid 1880’s until the 1950’s.

Function

Used to press and smooth textiles. Hot charcoals were placed inside the iron, heating its sole. The flues at the back of the iron either allowed, if opened, or restricted, if closed, airflow into the body of the iron, which heated the charcoals, producing greater heat (distribution and temperature) for the sole of the iron. Tailor’s charcoal irons have two flues, whereas charcoal irons produced for private use have one. The chimney carried away smoke from the iron. The wooden handle provided relief from the heat of the iron (as did the hand guard).

Technical

Charcoal irons were innovations to the traditional sad iron or cold handle sad iron. They were used in many rural areas up and into the 1950s, as electricity was either unavailable or unreliable. In many developing countries, this style of iron (traditional and not tailor’s) is still quite popular.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Incised into hand shield is: `PAT AUG 18' 85/ ''AUG 14' 88'; In cast raised letters on top edges is: `E. [G] PEASE' & `CINCINNATI'; Cast raised figures on flue caps reads: `PATENTED' on one and `AUG 14 1888' on the other; Red plastic stick-on label on one side of the body reads: `F.C. ZUFELDT'.

Missing

From CA of 04/15/1994 by Tony Missio: Undetermined - top does not latch

Finish

Once plated. Most metal work is not tarnished and worn. Body is pitted in places. Brass visible below plate on hand shield. Handle is worn, scuffed and chipped.

Decoration

N/A