Does anyone still make Rotery or Mangle Ironers?

[iheartmaytag]

I have seen them discussed, and know that our Dear Laundress has one so hoping that someone can answer this question.

Does anyone besides Miele still make a Mangle Iron? I have been checking ebay and the such and have only found really bad vintage items with terrible shipping prices, or New Miele for $1,999.

Just wondering if there are any manufactures still making a rotary iron for home use. Singer has a flat press type, but wanting a Ironette or that type if I could find one.

Maybe I should post in the supermarket section to see if anyone has one for sale. Anyway at this time wondering if they are still made outside of Germany?

Edited to add: Nothing against Germany, just the price of the Miele.[this post was last edited: 5/15/2013-12:23]

 

[kb0nes]

Miele

I have seen one in their catalog.

You can even order one from Bed, Bath & Beyond!

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[tomturbomatic]

Ironers were not popular appliances even after WWII. Many companies coerced or extorted customers who wanted an automatic washer to buy an ironer in order to be able to buy the washer in the late 40s & early 50s just ot get rid of excess, otherwise unsellable ironers. Now, in a time when so many people cannot even be bothered to wash laundry properly, would you think that there would be a market for an ironing machine in this country and even if there were, can you imagine something like an ironer actually being made here?

 

[danemodsandy]

If You Want a Mangle....

....Get an Ironrite.

Yes, there are a lot of nasty ones out there. But people who look long enough can get lucky like Fred Stachnik did - he found a pristine TOL Model 95 I would freakin' kill for. Price? IIRC, $20. I am not allowed in Twin Cities for fear I will heist Fred's 95, LOL.

Of all the vintage mangle brands (Kenmore, GE, Conlon, etc.) Ironrite has the best hobbyist support, with service info and parts still available if you know where to look.

Ironrites are also the easiest to use, due to their "two open ends" roller design.

BTW, one of the big reasons for people not getting ironers or letting ironers go unused back in the day was the hand-knee coordination required. You're pressing controls with your knee and maneuvering garments with your hands, and a lot of people couldn't do it. Driving a car is actually far more complicated, but most people want to drive, and they don't want to iron. So, it's my opinion that a lot of "giving up" was going on.

 

[launderess]

In The United States, No

Your only option is the imported Miele ironers from Germany.

OTHO on the other side of the pond Miele, Pfaff, Cordes and many other brands of ironers are still produced.

You can sometimes find used Miele ironers for a good price on CL, eBay or similar sites. Usually they go for less if "pick-up only" are the only terms of sale. Other times the final sale price after bidding can range from allot to a little less than full purchase price.

Of the domestic ironers one has the small/portable "Ironrite" but it doesn't get as much use compared to the Pfaff or Frigidaire.

One thing don't like about the Ironrite design is a lack of speed control. Thus the only way to deal with items that are heavy and or not easily ironed like muslin or linen is to stop and "press" each section. That or send things through several times.

The other thing that bugs me about Ironrites is that darn grease box in the back. You have to keep the entire area CLEAN, or your nice freshly washed laundry will get nasty stains.

Ironers are often very long lasting appliances. On both sides of the pond you can find units >20 years old happily chugging away and will still give more years of service. Long as the things are properly maintained and used I've had no qualms about choosing my older Pfaff and Frigidaire over a newer Miele. Had a chance to nab a Miele rotary ironer several years ago for <$400 but passed for various reasons.

Actually have two older flat presses (Hurley) and one more modern Elnapress. Find them very useful for items that often look like something the cat dragged in if done on rotary ironer. Fitted sheets, shirts, and some pillow slips can be done faster with better results on the press IMHO.

If you want a rotary ironer with a roller near the size of a Miele, look for vintage GE, Frigidaire, Conlon and Maytag versions. These units in their last incarnations had rollers of about 31", just a few inches shorter than Miele's 34".

 

[foraloysius]

Cordes

Cordes doesn't exist anymore. The company was bought up by Miele in 1986 to acquire their industrial laundry segment. The segment that manufactured consumer products was closed down.

 

[launderess]

I Stand Corrected

And I thank you!

 

[laundromat]

YES!

There are mangle irons made by Singer available here. Ginny has a catalog with them in it. I think they retail for about $299.00. Mielle also makes one but, I'm not sure if they are available in the United States or not. I am sure though the Mielle models are way more expensive then the Singers.

 

[iheartmaytag]

Thanks for all the info

I checked Craig's list and there is actually an Ironette at an estate sale that is opening this weekend. It's not too far away so I may go give it a look.
I wasn't aware that they were so plentiful, and actually I have found that you can find some with very little usage at farm sales.

I will keep up my quest, now more energized than before.

I like the Miele because you can fold it for storage, but I don't like it for the $1,999 price tag.

My mother used to have an Ironette and it got quite a workout. She could run a men's shirt through, and it looked hand pressed. She would curl the collars and sleeves around the end and then catch the rest, only took her a few minutes.

I am looking now mostly for large flat work, linens and sheets. I don't see myself doing shirts and other small items.

Back in the day when people ironed, my mother actually fed us kids by taking in ironings. She didn't have the Ironette then, she charged 10 cents a piece and had quite a few regulars that brought their baskets by weekly, sometimes twice weekly.

 

[hydralique]

In the movie Hairspray Edna Turnblad also takes in ironing to do without the benefit of a mangle, at least we don't see one in the movie. She is decidedly not amused when her daughter Tracy and best friend Penney make too much noise dancing to the Corny Collins Show while Edna is trying to iron . . .

[this post was last edited: 5/16/2013-12:42]

 

[whirlcool]

and my diet pill is wearing off....... classic.

 

[launderess]

Ironing/Pressing Services

Are still very popular in many parts of Europe, Germany comes to mind.

Ladies have those huge Miele ironers set up in a part of the house and can do flatwork and quite allot more. Others simply use an ironing board and iron set-up.

Taking in washing was one way women could earn money, going back ages. Sometimes when a woman's husband died her family and or friends would club together to get her a mangle/wringer so she could "take in washing" to provide for herself and children.

As large steam laundries began to emerge they took aim at small scale operations. Most billed themselves as being able to provide a more sanitary, cleaner and so forth wash than what was done by a "non-professional". The fact these laundries could crank out through put in scores if not hundreds of pounds per day versus a home laundry soon meant the days of "taking in washing" were numbered.

Then local health laws meant to control the spread of disease (among other reasons) also put the kibosh on home laundries, well at least in theory.

In the South where there was an abundance of cheap labour laundry services often had a harder time making inroads, at least in rural areas. However that began to change as African Americans started the "great migration" up North. Ironically many ended up working in commercial laundries from Chicago to New York.

Mildred Pierce famously takes in washing, much to the shame of her stuck-up daughter who would later become a murderess.

As domestic semi-automatic and then fully automatic washing machines took hold the need for any sort of laundry service lessened. What still was needed however was someone or thing to do the ironing. Hence ironing services then and still do linger. At least in the United States the widespread adoption of tumble dryers lessened the need for ironing. In most household it only was man of the house's shirts that required such care, so shirt laundries flourished.

Ironer/mangles often did see very little use. IIRC the story from other members back in the day appliance dealers often would bundle the ironer with say a washing machine purchase. Housewives wanted the washer but couldn't get it alone otherwise. Sort of like people who won't sell a W&D set without the dryer.