$20 find at an estate sale. Still needs more PineSol and scrubbing after years in a basement, but it heats and rolls!
Do I need this? Too late, it's home
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Weclome to my world!
Congrats on the new addition.
I'd use something a bit less "fragrant" than PineSol. Wipe down new appliances upon arrival with a solution made from hospital grade disinfectant cleaner and water (you don't know where they've been, do you?). Then dry with a soft old terry towel.
CR back in the 1950's gave both "under roll" ironers (Bendix and Ironrite at that time were the only two that used this design) consistent high marks. This lasted for the entire period they reviewed ironers, which one thinks stopped by the late 1950's or certainly early 1960's.
If you have a sewing machine making a new roller cover (unbleached muslin is good, but some use linen), is very easy. They are nothing more than a width of material slightly wider than roller with a drawstring seam on each end. You can also simply just wind a length of muslin around the roller; not exactly pretty, but will get the job done until something better arrives.
The knitted cotton padding must *NOT* be washed, ever! If it has compacted down and or has a whiff you can unroll and hang outside on clothesline (windy day is best). That and or pop into dryer on "Air Fluff" cycle for several minutes.
Bendix recognized the benefits of under roll heated ironers (most all commercial versions have used this principle for ages), but had to get around Ironrite's patents. This meant not suspending the shoe in center/back, but from one side among other differences.
Am not surprised you got the thing for such a good price. The only ironers have seen go for anything like dear money are the modern Miele versions. Others practically at give away prices, with still often no takers.
Then you have people like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vin...498271?hash=item1c76ef99df:g:P1gAAOSwB09YJpgr
Congrats on the new addition.
I'd use something a bit less "fragrant" than PineSol. Wipe down new appliances upon arrival with a solution made from hospital grade disinfectant cleaner and water (you don't know where they've been, do you?). Then dry with a soft old terry towel.
CR back in the 1950's gave both "under roll" ironers (Bendix and Ironrite at that time were the only two that used this design) consistent high marks. This lasted for the entire period they reviewed ironers, which one thinks stopped by the late 1950's or certainly early 1960's.
If you have a sewing machine making a new roller cover (unbleached muslin is good, but some use linen), is very easy. They are nothing more than a width of material slightly wider than roller with a drawstring seam on each end. You can also simply just wind a length of muslin around the roller; not exactly pretty, but will get the job done until something better arrives.
The knitted cotton padding must *NOT* be washed, ever! If it has compacted down and or has a whiff you can unroll and hang outside on clothesline (windy day is best). That and or pop into dryer on "Air Fluff" cycle for several minutes.
Bendix recognized the benefits of under roll heated ironers (most all commercial versions have used this principle for ages), but had to get around Ironrite's patents. This meant not suspending the shoe in center/back, but from one side among other differences.
Am not surprised you got the thing for such a good price. The only ironers have seen go for anything like dear money are the modern Miele versions. Others practically at give away prices, with still often no takers.
Then you have people like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vin...498271?hash=item1c76ef99df:g:P1gAAOSwB09YJpgr
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
sbond22
Well-known member
Shades of The Big Bang Theory
Kinda reminds me of when Sheldon sets up a stand to get rid of his cats for $20 apiece.
" Here's your cat and here's your twenty dollars."
Kinda reminds me of when Sheldon sets up a stand to get rid of his cats for $20 apiece.
" Here's your cat and here's your twenty dollars."
Will the Simplex presser get any "takers" for 10 grand and another one shown for 20 grand?For those crazy prices-just will wear my clothes wrinkled!
Second Simplex ironer mentioned has been on fleaPay for years it seems. No one has ever gone near. The first actually was listed higher, but got no takers.
What many selling these cast iron and steel behemoths fail to understand is the market for vintage ironers is *very* limited. Then due to size and weight sales are normally local (don't start about my vintage Simplex, *LOL*).
Those Simplex ironers shown and others out there being offered all run on natural gas for heating. They have none of the safety features found on modern gas heated ironers, and not entirely sure how safe it is to run one of them indoors today.
What many selling these cast iron and steel behemoths fail to understand is the market for vintage ironers is *very* limited. Then due to size and weight sales are normally local (don't start about my vintage Simplex, *LOL*).
Those Simplex ironers shown and others out there being offered all run on natural gas for heating. They have none of the safety features found on modern gas heated ironers, and not entirely sure how safe it is to run one of them indoors today.
Of course you needed it! Lol
A number of years ago, I went to an estate sale not far from us that had a lovely Bendix Ironer for sale - $300. It was in very nice shape but the price...! A few weeks later, there was a garage sale at the same home and I stopped. The ironer was still there and the homeowner was running his own sale to get rid of some of the leftovers from the sale. He still wanted a pretty penny for the ironer but told the story of it's origins.
When he first started working the late 50's, he was a sales person for the local dealer and when a customer bought an appliance, part of his job was to do the in-home demonstration and customer support training. He sold many ironers and you could just tell he that was one of his favorites to demonstrate. Very interesting man and fun to hear what the appliance business was like back then.
A number of years ago, I went to an estate sale not far from us that had a lovely Bendix Ironer for sale - $300. It was in very nice shape but the price...! A few weeks later, there was a garage sale at the same home and I stopped. The ironer was still there and the homeowner was running his own sale to get rid of some of the leftovers from the sale. He still wanted a pretty penny for the ironer but told the story of it's origins.
When he first started working the late 50's, he was a sales person for the local dealer and when a customer bought an appliance, part of his job was to do the in-home demonstration and customer support training. He sold many ironers and you could just tell he that was one of his favorites to demonstrate. Very interesting man and fun to hear what the appliance business was like back then.
It works
All cleaned up and it works! After some sheets and some shirts ironed last night, there is a learning curve for sure!
And I did it all with no starch, so I gotta get some Sta-Puf and do one good batch of dress shirts before my "thrill of the week" appliance starts collecting dust.
Thanks for your good thoughts, I just couldn't resist it at $20
MArk
All cleaned up and it works! After some sheets and some shirts ironed last night, there is a learning curve for sure!
And I did it all with no starch, so I gotta get some Sta-Puf and do one good batch of dress shirts before my "thrill of the week" appliance starts collecting dust.
Thanks for your good thoughts, I just couldn't resist it at $20
MArk
You might wish to hold off on the starch.
Generally standard advice for using ironers was/is to omit use of starch. This is because the machine exerts such great pressure upon things that they emerge smooth and with "body" without use of starch. However if one feels they must further advice gives to use less, often much less than one would if ironing by hand.
Having extensive experience with ironers and presses, found long ago starch often caused more problems than it was worth.
The great pressure exerted means starched items that are double layered literally emerge "glued" together. If the thing requires a second pass (say to do the other side), that gluing is going to make things difficult. Also if any folds/cat whiskers are ironed in with starched goods they are hard to shift, if at all.
On single ply items such as napkins, or sheets/tablecloths you can send through without folding, starching *might* make a difference. But you will still have issues regarding the "gluing" as noted above, in particular with cat whiskers.
The other worry is from starched items getting stuck to the ironing shoe. Then there is of course having to clean off any starch residue from same.
If you do not have the Bendix owner's manual and or cannot lay hands on same, try finding one for Ironrite. Though design is a bit different principles of under shoe ironing are pretty much the same.
Generally standard advice for using ironers was/is to omit use of starch. This is because the machine exerts such great pressure upon things that they emerge smooth and with "body" without use of starch. However if one feels they must further advice gives to use less, often much less than one would if ironing by hand.
Having extensive experience with ironers and presses, found long ago starch often caused more problems than it was worth.
The great pressure exerted means starched items that are double layered literally emerge "glued" together. If the thing requires a second pass (say to do the other side), that gluing is going to make things difficult. Also if any folds/cat whiskers are ironed in with starched goods they are hard to shift, if at all.
On single ply items such as napkins, or sheets/tablecloths you can send through without folding, starching *might* make a difference. But you will still have issues regarding the "gluing" as noted above, in particular with cat whiskers.
The other worry is from starched items getting stuck to the ironing shoe. Then there is of course having to clean off any starch residue from same.
If you do not have the Bendix owner's manual and or cannot lay hands on same, try finding one for Ironrite. Though design is a bit different principles of under shoe ironing are pretty much the same.
I'd love to tinker with one of these, however, I have no room in the inn for one. Someone on CL here has a new Miele for $999. My iron is the dryer and remove clothes as soon as it stops. Of course, I do have a GE steam burst iron for my church clothes.
