History of the Pressing Iron

The pressing iron has come a long way.

Early cultures recognized the need for smoothing cloth long before the invention of the hand iron. Ironing remained arduous until the advent of electricity.

Early Pressing

The Chinese were the first to use hot iron to press smooth cloth. Long-handled pans filled with hot coals were pressed over stretched cloth. In Europe, forging of smoothing irons began in the late Middle Ages.

First Irons

Early flatirons were made of stone, earthenware or terracotta. Metal irons were heated by a fire or on a stove and pads or thick rags used to grip metal handles.

Considerations

Flatirons had to be sand-papered and polished to keep them clean. Ironers used them carefully so that they did not burn the cloth.

Development

Charcoal or box irons held used hot coals, metal slabs or brick inserts in the base of the iron to keep it hotter longer.

Self-Heating Irons

Gas irons were available by 1860. In 1882, Henry W. Seely of New York City patented the electric iron. Electric irons first created heat with a carbon arc and then electrical resistance. Electric steam irons appeared in the early 1950s. Thermostat heat control, introduced in the mid-1930s, eliminated the risk of burning.

References

• Old and Interesting: History of Ironing
• Old and Interesting: Early Electric Irons
• Garmento: The History of Irons
• Simply Switch On: Thermostat Electric Irons