General Information

Serial #

7508

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Chrome plated cast metal housing. Aluminium sole plate. Synthetic handle, temperature/steam selection lever, and on/off steam button. Metal temperature control dial.

Dimensions

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

Length

23.8 cm

Width

11.0 cm

Height

14.2 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

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Toronto

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Manufactured in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Presumably used in Canada. Part of the Ontario Hydro collection donated to the Museum in 1992. Ontario Hydro accessioned this iron into their collection in 1964 from Canadian General Electric of Barrie, Ontario.

Function

Used to press flat and or remove wrinkles from fabrics.

Technical

The first electric irons did not have thermostats. The first temperature settings were introduced in 1917 but the truly automatic adjustable temperature iron was marketed in 1927. The next major development was the introduction of the steam iron which was offered starting in the mid 1930s. The use of steam became common in commercial laundries in the 1880s. It was not until the 1950s, however, that steam/dry irons became available to the mass public. Since its initial conception, steam iron innovation has witnessed an increase in the number sole plate orifices. This has allowed for greater distribution of steam over the complete surface of the sole plate and has improved the efficiency of ironing.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Mfr's marks stamped on underside of housing read: 'CANADIAN GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY LIM[ITED]/ TORONTO CAN. CAT. NO F9[0]/ 1000W. 115V. A.C. ONLY/MADE IN CANADA SA 7508/ CAUTION: USE WITH WALL BASE OR RANGE RECEPTACLE ONLY'. Settings on temperature control dial read: 'OFF...SYN.RAY.WOOL.COT.LIN/ STEAM (steam feature ranges from Ray to Lin settings). Raised letters on top of steam button read: 'UP FOR/ STEAM'. Both sides of base of handle read: 'GENERAL GE [logo] ELECTRIC'.

Missing

Part of housing and sole plate (intentionally cut away). Electrical cord. From CA of 03/31/1994 by Tony Missio: No - Complete

Finish

Polished chrome finish on housing, central part of handle, temperature control dial and water fill opening. Unfinished aluminium sole plate. Black synthetic handle with red synthetic on-off steam button. REd and white graphics. Some internal components painted red.

Decoration

Graph-like pattern of lines on centre portion of handle base.