General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Cast iron body. Connecting poles set in plaster-like base. Metal handle. Wooden hand grip.

Dimensions

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

Length

18.7 cm

Width

9.5 cm

Height

13.5 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

General Electric

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Part of the Ontario Hydro collection donated to the Museum in 1992. Ontario Hydro received this iron from Canadian General Electric of Barrie Ontario, in 1964.

Function

Used to press flat and/or remove wrinkles from fabrics.

Technical

The electric iron was invented in 1882, by Howard Seely. Seely patented his electric flatiron on June 6, 1882 (U.S. Patent no. 259,054). Early electric irons used a carbon arc to create heat, which was an unsafe method. In 1892, hand irons using electrical resistance were introduced by Crompton and Company and the General Electric Company. During the 1950s, electric steam irons were introduced.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Raised letters on rectangular Mfr's plate near heel read: 'ELECTRIC FLAT IRON/ CAT. 36815 TYPE D FORM A2/ AMP. 4.3-4.7 VOLTS 105-115/ GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.U.S.A.'. Card stock tag glued to iron sole plate reads: 'General Elec. Iron/ 1905/32' handwritten in blue ink.

Missing

From CA of 04/08/1994 by Tony Missio: No - Complete

Finish

Unfinished iron body. Polished sole. Silver painted metal handle. Wooden hand grip painted black. Unfinished metal mfr.'s plate.

Decoration

N/A