General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Aluminium housing, sole plate, and heel stand. synthetic handle, wet-dry selection lever and temperature control dial. Fibre covered cord with rubber swivel cord lift and rubber, and brass plug.

Dimensions

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

Length

25.9 cm

Width

12.3 cm

Height

15.1 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

Silex

Country

Canada

State/Province

Quebec

City

Saint Johns

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Part of the Ontario Hydro collection donated to the Museum in 1992. Manufactured in St. John's, Quebec. Presumably used in Canada.

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

Triangular mfr's plate on heel of iron reads: 'TRADE MARK SILEX [LOGO] REG. CAN. PAT. OFF./ AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC STEAM IRON/ COVERED BY CAN. & FOREIGN PATS./ THE SILEX CO. LTD. ST. JOHNS P.Q./ CAT. NO. SSA 115V. 1000W. A.C. ONLY/ MADE IN CANADA CSA APP. NO. 3402/ CAUTION! FOR USE WITH WALL OR/ BASE RECEPTACLE ONLY.'. Settings on temperature control dial on heel read: 'OFF LOW MED HIGH'. Settings cast into housing below lever read: 'WET' & 'DRY'. Mfr's logo cast into either side of handle reads: 'SILEX'. Raised printing on plug reads: '[2]50V 660W'.

Missing

Water fill opening lid. From CA of 03/31/1994 by Tony Missio: Yes - missing filler plug

Finish

Polished finish on housing, sole plate, and heel stand. Black synthetic handle with red synthetic wet-dry lever. Black and red synthetic temperature control dial. Black and white fibre cord-covering. Black rubber swivel cord lift. Black rubber plug with unfinished brass prongs.

Decoration

N/A