Anyone Else into Ironers?

[launderess]

My vintage Pfaff ironer arrived today and can't wait to get it up and running. Will need to touch up the paint in spots and launder/change the roller cover and padding first.

This is my second ironer, and while like my Thor Gladiron, the roller is too small in both length and diamater to handle anything but small items. Thought about getting an Ironrite, but they are just too big.

Anyone else into ironers/mangles?

Launderess

 

[lightedcontrols]

I have a vintage IronRite in pink WITH the health chair that I can't wait to set up and try. Also have a white IronRite in pretty good shape. Also just bought a new Miele Ironer that my housekeeper is very afraid to even try. She's read the book but is still intimidated by it. Wish I knew of an ironer expert to show us all how to use one of these ironing wonders! The pink ironer is still crated but I think it has the "how to" book with it. The Miele book is VERY vague but shows how everything can be ironed with it in a jiffy. Time will tell on this one! Mark

 

[launderess]

Miele Ironer

Using is simple once one get's the knack of it. Are YOU the one that bid $$$$ for the Pink Ironrite from eBay?

While was considering the Miele, went with the Pfaff since the roller/shoe design is similar to the Ironrite, just MUCH larger. Like that it is open on both ends for doing tricky items.

One thing to learn about using any ironer is just how damp various items must be. While they should be drier than when using a hand iron, they still must be damp enough to produce good results and dry with one pass under the shoe.

L.

 

[jetaction]

Ironer info

It was my desire for a mangle that lead me to the applianceville website. I have had a couple different Ironrites. I remember my first attempt to iron pillow cases. I washed and bleached these great all cotton sheets, and hung them out to dry. Put the pillowcases through the mangle and they scorched. I posted a note on this club, and was told that bleach was the culprit, rewash them and they would be just fine. I did just that, and they turned out great. www.ironrite.com is a great help for mangle lovers! Still haven't done long sleeve dress shirts, but understand it works great if you have the patience to learn.

 

[lightedcontrols]

Hi Launderess! I got this Ironer well over a year ago on ebay, and to be honest, can't remember how much it ended up costing. It is in MINT shape and looks like it was never used. Got it from two guys that were selling it and had a beautiful collection of pink things in their kitchen.

 

[gansky1]

I have a '47 Ironrite and the Health Chair but rarely use it. I see ironers all the time at sales and thrift stores around here. Mine isn't in that great of mechanical condition but can't convince myself to buy another as I don't use it. I have, however, found a number of new in the package roller pads and covers for Ironrites.

 

[launderess]

Ironrite Covers and Pads?

Gansky we need to talk!

Launderess

 

[ironrite]

I thought I heard my name mentioned. Though actually due to space and time constraints, I have sold my Ironrite to a very good home in Utah. It's been replaced by a new Conair Steam Iron. So much for progress.

I think these videos have been mentioned before, but post them in the message.

http://www.archive.org/movies/details-db.php?collection=prelinger&collectionid=50003a

This is to Video Part 1 Making a New Day Out of Tuesday.

And here's Part 2

http://www.archive.org/movies/details-db.php?collection=prelinger&collectionid=50003b

The videos are a hoot to watch, and it shows the proper operation of the Ironrite. I used to iron all my pants, shirts, linens on the thing when I had it. It's just one of those practice makes perfect. My advise, especially with older machines would be to watch your heat settings. If the machine runs hot, you can very quickly melt and scortch your clothes.

I also found that using a liquid or boiled starch is best. You can really make those creases stand out.

 

[launderess]

Starch?

I use a rice based starch imported from Europe. Gives great results including a nice silky smooth feeling and satin sheen.

Regarding ironer temp settings; I'm here to tell you, cranking one of these vintage babies up to "Linen/High" and not careful will surely result in scorch and melted fastenings. All those old comedy routines where the wife burns a hole through hubby's shirts are not fantasy!

Have several vintage electric hand irons, including a Proctor Silex "Never-Lift" iron and the ones from the 1940's -1950's are heavy and get very hot. The more "recent" members of my collection, from the 1960's and 1970's still get hot and are somewhat heavy, but not as much as their vintage cousins. I do have a Naomoto gravity steam iron that weighs a "ton" to me. After an day ironing with this puppy, have calloused hands and sore arm muscles.

Find myself using the more recent irons as it is becoming harder to find vintage Proctor Silex "Never Lift" irons, and those cloth covered cords begin to fray with heavy use.

Recently saw a vintage Maytag ironer in good conditon on
fleaBay, and it went for quite a penny. Guess it was because it had a longer roller than most other ironers, about 29". The reason I went for the Pfaff is the long roller (33"). It just became too much work folding long wide items like bed sheets to fit the Thor Gladiron.

 

[partscounterman]

I wish I still had

My Spartan Press-O-Matic. It was a flat press Ironer and super easy to use. The good thing is that I know where it still is! (Hint-do any Twin Cities members want a Press-O-matic?)

 

[foraloysius]

I have two ironers. A Bosch from the sixties and an AEG which is I think from that same era. Here's a picture of the Bosch.

 

[launderess]

Spartan Press O Matic's

Have had two vintage models so far and both "died" on me.

Well to be fair one was from the 70's and purchased off Fleabay, before I knew enough to ask questions. It arrived having seen better days,and basically was one step up from Highland cattle. Recently purchased another "newer" model from fleaBay and while this unit performs well and still works, notice a "burning wire" smell and not sure if it is coming from inside the shoe, or is just my mind at work.

Newer Spartan ironers have a thermostat which much be calibrated for proper use. Since I do not keep my unit out all the time, everytime it is unplugged put away/taken out and plugged in again, the thermostat must be reset. I *think* this is causing the thermostat to go out of whack as it gets VERY hot during continued use. So have a hunch this baby may need to go out for repairs.

Happily my new Pfaff baby is here for me to play with. Soon as I get another 220v outlet installed or find a transformer. Would rather use the outlet as this baby pulls 3.15kW of power. Our electrican says I can use a transformer, but would be limted to using the unit wihout it's steam boiler to keep power consumption wihtin certian limits.

Launderess