General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Chrome plated metal housing. Aluminium sole plate. Synthetic handle, temperature/steam selection knob and steam control dial. Metal temperature/steam selection dial. Fibre covered cord with rubber cord lift and rubber plug with brass prongs.

Dimensions

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

Length

24.8 cm

Width

11.9 cm

Height

14.5 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

United States of America

State/Province

Connecticut

City

Bridgeport

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Type of iron presumably used in Canadian households. Part of the Ontario Hydro collection donated to the Museum in 1992. Ontario Hydro received the iron from Canadian General Electric of Barrie, Ontario in 1964.

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

Mfr's marks on underside of housing read: 'CAT. NO. 119F20 WATTS 1000VOLTS 115/ UNITED STATES PATENTS 1612114 2158850 2128869 RE. 16847/ 1795180/ GENERAL ELECTRIC CO./ BRIDGEPORT, CONN. ONTARIO, CALIF./ MADE IN U.S.A./ FOR ALTERNATING CURRENT ONLY'. Settings on temperature control/steam selection dial read: 'STEAM RANGE/ RAY SILK WOOL/ DRY RANGE/ RAYON SILK WOOL COTTON LINEN/ GENERAL ELECTRIC/ OFF'. Steam dial/eject button on handle reads: 'OFF 1 2 3'. 'GE' insignia on plug prongs. 'UL' marked on plug. '82' handwritten on a piece of masking tape affixed to proper right side of iron. 'Gen. Elec. Steam Iron/ Modern' handwritten on a cardstock label glued to underside of sole plate.

Missing

Steam button. From CA of 04/06/1994 by Tony Missio: No - Complete

Finish

Polished chrome finish on housing. Unfinished aluminium sole plate. Black synthetic handle, temperature/steam selection knob, and steam control dial. Temperature/steam selection dial white and red with silver printing. Black and white fibre cord-covering. Black rubber cord lift and plug. Unfinished brass prongs.

Decoration

Three parallel incised lines on both sides of housing (near bottom) and handle (front pedestal)l. Parallel raised lines on temperature/steam selection dial.