General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Nickel-plated pressed steel housing and cast iron sole plate. Nickel-plated metal handle, heel stand and plug guard. Wooden hand grip and thumb rest.

Dimensions

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

Length

19.3 cm

Width

10.5 cm

Height

12.5 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

Made in Canada. Part of the Ontario Hydro collection donated to the museum in 1992.

Function

Used to press flat and/or remove wrinkles from fabrics.

Technical

The Hotpoint iron was designed in 1905 by Earl H. Richardson from California. The heating elements in this iron are arranged in such a way that the heat is concentrated at the forward point of the soleplate, to better iron buttonholes and pleated materials. Hence the name "Hotpoint". The manufacturer’s name changed over time, and the name CGE indicates that this iron may have been made in the late 1920s or in the 1930s. However, in its design it is almost exactly the same as Hotpoint irons from the early 1900’s. 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. plate on heel stand reads: 'Hotpoint [logo] N.P.8/ CANADIAN GENERAL ELECTRIC Co., LTD./ TORONTO, CANADA./ No. F17 WATTS 575 VOLTS 110/ H.E.P.C. APPROVAL NO. 336'

Missing

Electrical cord. From CA of 03/29/1994 by Tony Missio: Yes - no cord

Finish

Polished nickel finish on housing, sole plate, handle, heel stand and plug guard. Unfinished wooden hand grip (with remnants of black paint). Wooden thumb rest is painted black. Unfinished metal mfr.'s plate with a black background and black & silver graphics.

Decoration

N/A