The museum has a collection of four smoothing irons, which demonstrate different approaches to ironing clothes and bed sheets before the arrival of mains electricity in 1970. Up to the early twentieth century, the iron itself or a metal “slug”, which fitted into the body of the iron, was heated by the household fire or on the cooking range.
Small “sad” iron (length 140mm), manufactured by the Sylvester Company in England c1890/1900.
LISDD:2006.42
The benefit of the “box” iron was that a second “slug” could be heating up while the first was being used. The collection includes a very corroded triangular piece of iron found at Baileouchdrarach (LISDD:2014.188), which may have been a slug, but the complete example shown below originates from a house clearance in Appin. Without any identity marks, it may have been made by a local blacksmith.
“Box” iron with “slug”
LISDD:2014.187
New approaches to ironing developed in the in the twentieth century, with the drive for “labour saving”, particularly in the USA.
Petrol Smoothing Iron (length 225mm)
LISDD:2010.158
The terrifying petrol smoothing iron, from Daisybank House, was manufactured by Colman Inc., Kansas, USA, between 1929 and 1948. Fuel, released through a valve from the spherical reservoir, burned within the body of the iron to heat the ironing sole. The charring of the handle suggests that the flames were not always under control. How did the ironer prevent everything smelling of petrol?
It was generally safer to use irons fuelled by Calor gas. The iron in the collection was used by Margaret MacDonald, Achnacroish, up to the arrival of mains electricity.