General Information

Serial #

J219

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Nickel plated pressed steel housing and cast iron sole plate. Nickel plated metal handle with wooden hand grip. Brass mfr's plate.

Dimensions

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

Length

19.0 cm

Width

9.6 cm

Height

12.8 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

American Electrical

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Michigan

City

Detroit

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 Toronto Hydro-Electric System and accessioned it 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

Mfr's plate on iron top reads: 'AMERICAN/ BEAUTY/ IRON'. Mfr's marks stamped on heel read: '"AMERICAN"/ No 6 1/2 BEAUTY TYPE/ MADE BY/ AMERICAN ELECTRICAL HEATER CO./ DETROIT. U.S.A./ PAT. MAY 1908 PATENTS PENDING./ VOLTS 105-114 WATTS 525/ J219'.

Missing

From CA of 03/29/1994 by Tony Missio: No - Complete

Finish

Polished nickel finish on housing, sole plate, and handle. Hand grip painted black. Unfinished copper mfr's plate with black graphics.

Decoration

Mfr's plate in shape of triangle with bar across wide end (at top).