Bendix Rotary Iron

[hoovermatic]

I have just discovered in the loft of my parents house the Bendix Rotary Iron that my Dad bought in the late 1970's when we all lived at home and Mum used to have 12 or more sheets and mountains of laundry each week. I thought it had long since been consigned to the skip but there is was, covered in dust and looking sad and uncared for. I am going to clean it up and use it again - when I get it back home I will take some pictures and post them.

 

[chestermikeuk]

Now

Isnt that great news, looking forward to seeing the pics and in action!!!

 

[arbilab]

Grandma (1950s) had an Ironrite but I never saw her use it. And I 'helped' her run her 40s Thor wringer and 50s Easy Spindry. Fer gawdsake, who irons sheets today? I haven't even owned an iron since 1975.

 

[launderess]

"Fer gawdsake, who irons sheets today?"

*Ahem*

Will we be having much more of that?

*LOL*

 

[ozzie908]

Maybe not sheets but.....

Most of my other items as cannot abide wrinkled clothing it just looks like you don't care and whats the point in washing it to make it clean if it looks like its been in a car crash...

Austin

Ps I too have a rotary iron its made by Morphy Richards and it and I are the same vintage..lol

 

[hoovermatic]

I guess it is a generational thing! My mother would never dream of making a bed with unironed sheets. Saying that, she used to iron EVERYTHING - towels included. I thought she was mad for that one but at least the rotary iron made her life a little easier, given that at that time, she only had a twin tub to do all the laundry!

 

[aegokocarat]

i LOVE to have ironed sheets and shits,ect, ive got a bosch protect II iron with a paladium glisse sole plate, its an absolout DREAM to iton with it glides over grments in every directon with no cresing!
well worth thr money
cant wait to see piccys of it
Tom =)

 

[hoovermatic]

A sorry site :-(

Well here it is after 20 years in exile - it finally saw the light of day again and if possible will be put back in use!

 

[hoovermatic]

and another..................

the cotton sleeve that goes over the roller is long since gone but that can be replicated

 

[launderess]

Do Not Wash The Cotton Underpadding

Ever!

It will shrink and distort thus becoming neither use nor oranament.

You can and prolly should take the padding off, give it a good shake and or perhaps hang it outside (if one has a clothes line) on a brisk sunny day to freshen and fluff it up.

 

[hoovermatic]

I did look at the padding and wondered if it could be washed but decided against it and now you have convinced me 100%. As it is dust and airborne grime that has settled on it over the years I think I will start by giving the padding a good vacuum and then deodorise it. I couldn't see how to remove it but haven't really given it a good look at yet. I am arranging to have a new sleeve made and will clean up the rest myself. I tested it and it still heats up and rotates as good as it ever did. Can't wait to use it again. I became quite an expert at using it, even for ironing shirts - I seem to remember the instruction book had a load of diagrams in it for that particular task!!

 

[launderess]

One Can Purchase Padding New

Ironers generally came in several standard roller widths. Simply measure yours and head to any local sewing or other shop that sells Pfaff, Cordes, or other brands to see if they stock what you need. Also try eBay especially their German site as ironers and their accessories are big there.

The type of padding on your ironer is called "knitted cotton", and was the most common textile used for ages, however today many commercial laundries use neddle-punched polyester felt. If you cannot find the former try contacting commercial laundry/ironer supply houses to purchase the latter. One good thing about the polyester is that it can be cut down to proper width. Knitted cotton cannot be cut period. The ends are serged/overlocked and if trimming is not done the same way it will begin to unravel into a mess.

 

[ironrite]

You might try a good fabric store or one that specializes in quilts. I had good luck with my old Ironrite using a product called Warm and Natural batting. It was about the right thickness and I just cut the batting to size and rewrapped my drum.