General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Iron body and wooden handle.

Dimensions

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

Length

21.7 cm

Width

9.5 cm

Height

22.5 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

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Charcoal irons were presumably used in Canada from the 1880s up and until the 1950s.

Function

Used to press and smooth textiles.

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. The rooster adorning the iron's point has a practical use; it anchors the front of the iron’s 'lid' closed. Charcoal was placed inside the iron. Smoke from the burning charcoal was drawn up through the chimney and away from the clothes. The flue at the back of the iron could be opened or kept shut depending on how much oxygen was needed to keep the charcoals burning. Referred to as an "eye iron" because of the half-circle shapes at the base of the iron. These actually proved to be a drawback design of the charcoal iron, as soot and dirt readily exited these holes and dirtied (or ruined) textiles.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

‘K’, ‘O’, ‘4’, and ‘D’ raised print on base inside of iron. ‘4’ raised on base of charcoal plate.

Missing

From CA of 10/18/1994 by Tony Missio: No - Complete

Finish

Black iron. Wrinkle finish. Dark lacquered wood.

Decoration

Rooster latch. Handle bracket consists of two dragons which have their backs against each other.