Irons...

[electrolux137]

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I don't collect irons or any other small appliances other than vacuum cleaners and floor polishers; however, a variety of vintage irons, blenders, toasters, typewriters, pencil sharpeners, etc. etc. etc. have come and gone over the years.

I have used various late-model irons. The best in terms of performance, I think, was a Black & Decker steam iron as noted above. The problems with it were (a) didn't last very long and (b) weren't heavy enough for thicker fabrics.

Mama always swore by G.E. Irons; for as long as I can remember it's the only kind she used -- and may still! Well, one day in a thrift store I saw one "just like Mama's" for only around $5.00 so of course I bought it. Boy does that thing work great!!

 

[electrolux137]

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Here's another iron I have from the mid 1970s that I found at a yard sale for a couple of bucks, a Sunbeam "Shot of Steam." I picked it up just for its cool design and shape.

When I got it home and fired it up, WOW! Does that little thing ever make the steam! Enough to be able to use it as a light-duty clothes steamer. I was mightily impressed with it, as was Arlee when he saw it. He said, "I had one just like it when I was in college, but it was brown and tan."

The aluminum sole plate needs a bit of sprucing up. I'll use some steel wool with some aluminum polish, then do the wax paper trick as suggested above.

 

[electrolux137]

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After Arlee mentioned he had had the brown and tan model, I thought it would be fun to see if I could find one to surprise him with. Well gee, there were more than a dozen of them on eBay, and most of them with very reasonable starting bids or Buy-It-Now prices.

I saw one listed that was brand new in the box; the seller stated in the listing that the box was still sealed with the original staples. I got it for $15.00 "Buy It Now" with free shipping!

When it arrived in the mail, I knew what it was by the size of the outer box the shipper had (THANKFULLY!) sent it in. I handed it to Arlee and said, "Here's a little surprise for you." He opened the box, and when he saw what it was he exclaimed with delight, "Oh wow! That's the very one I had!"

He removed one of the staples from the original box and opened the flap. Inside was the iron swaddled in white tissue paper and all the original literature including warranty card and info tags attached to the cord.

He put it in the laundry room and said, "It will be fun to use it. I really liked the one I used to have."

 

[electrolux137]

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And speaking of steamers, about, hm, 10 years ago or so I found a Jiffy Steamer at a thrift shop for $10.00. The clerk at the shop let me try it out -- she brought me a cup of water from the back. I poured the water in and turned it on and WOWW!! Steam for days! I could do most of my clothes with the steamer and not have a lot of ironing to do.

I actually kinda hate ironing; when I was growing up, we all had to take turns with the Ironing Duty on wash day. With 5 kids and 2 parents, there was always a LOT of ironing and it would take the better part of an afternoon to do it all, a weekly after-school chore that I just loathed.

To this day, I still do not enjoy ironing. I know some people get into the "zen" aspect of it, the same way that some people get into the "zen" aspect of mowing a yard and enjoying seeing the grass get trimmed and neatened-up.

That's another chore I hope I never have to do again -- cutting grass. When I was in elementary- and junior-high-school, my brothers and sister and I used to make money in the summertime cutting grass for neighbors. We lived on an island in Virginia at the time. Most people's yards were full of sand, especially those folks who lived near the waterfront. And there were pine trees all over the place which meant dried-out pine cones to watch out for. It was a routine thing when cutting people's grass to get hit with a searing blast of sand or popped in the head by a pine cone sent aloft by the lawn mower.

Aaaaaaaaaaanway, when I found that steamer I was very happy with it. But when we moved, I am sorry to say I gave it away. It was just one more thing to deal with and I was afraid I wouldn't have anywhere to keep it. Now I wish I'd never gotten rid of it. Oh well.

 

[super-sweeper]

Charles,

I have that SAME G-E iron! That cord, however, is not original. The one on mine is a BEAUTIFUL matching turquoise, soft & supple! With a molded plug that can clip to the wrapped cord. I bought at a years sale years ago, along with the 1986 KTV television I use daily in my bedroom! I think I payed $5 for the iron, too!

 

[paulg]

I will revisit my Presto

Based upon KenKart's recommendation I will unearth my old Presto and give it a spin again.
I suppose it is time. The poor thing has been on a shelf for way too long...

 

[davetranter]

Hoover Iron

I have a Hoover P3136 iron in working order, if anyone wants to offer me a couple of pounds for it. (postage extra, or local pickup) ;-). Original cord, and not badly worn.

All best

Dave T

 

[smow69]

iron cord

does anyone have a g e iron that doesn,t work that they would like to sell the cord off of. I have an iron that was my great grandmothers and the cord is no good this is the best iron to iron jeans with.its heavy but works great.

 

[smow69]

pic 2

 

[smow69]

pic 3

 

[super-sweeper]

Sunbeam,

On that Iron, did you ever noticed Sunbeam used the SAME plug as HOOVER did in the 1960s?