FREE: 1950s GE Flatplate Automatic Ironer and Ironrite Chair

[gredmondson]

Unsuccessfully, I have tried to give away this rare GE flatplate ironer before on this site. I am hoping that this time, since I have included photos, that I will be successful. I don't use this, and maybe there is someone out there who would like to have it.
The heating plate is on top, and it comes down on the pad to press the cloth. There is a jar that collects water from the dampened clothes under the pressing pad. It is great on flat pieces, of course, but it is also very easy to do a shirt on it, too.
My guess is that it is from the early 1950s. The last time I used it, about ten years ago, it worked perfectly. I suspect that it still does.
I am in the Lower Haight part of San Francisco, and I will be happy to help load this into your vehicle. If no one here takes it within a few days, I will post it on craigslist for free.
George

 

[launderess]

Would love to have it; but alas no room.

Plus shipping from CA to NY would be far too dear for budget atm.

Also have three presses (one Elna, and two vintage Hurley presses), so have a hunch would be read the riot act if something else showed up! *LOL*

 

[gredmondson]

Thanks, Launderess! It is such a cool appliance, and so well built, too. There is a funny story about how I got it.
I stopped at a yard sale in San Luis Obispo, where I lived at the time, and there it was, for $40.00. I told the seller that I could do $20.00, and that I was sure that I was the only person who would stop by who 1) would know what it was, and 2) would want to buy it. But it was so big, and in such good shape, even though the seller did not know what it was, he was going to hold out for what he was asking. So, I left without it.
Later at home, I kicked myself for not getting it!
Then, a few weeks later, I was a a junk store in San Luis, and there it was. This was a very large junk/antique store just beyond the nicer downtown stores. I told the salesperson that I was interested in the ironer, that I knew where she had gotten it, and how much she had paid for it (she was then asking $100). She told me that she had bought for the boss's wife who was Chinese, and she added, "You know how the Chinese love laundry!" But, perplexing to her, the boss's Chinese wife did NOT love laundry, and here it was in the shop. She sold it to me for $40.00. I was so happy
I did learn to use it, and for what I did, surprisingly preferred it to the Ironrite.
Thanks for responding. I understand about the room -- and incidentally, I love to read your postings here.

 

[gredmondson]

Thanks, Launderess! It is such a cool appliance, and so well built, too. There is a funny story about how I got it.
I stopped at a yard sale in San Luis Obispo, where I lived at the time, and there it was, for $40.00. I told the seller that I could do $20.00, and that I was sure that I was the only person who would stop by who 1) would know what it was, and 2) would want to buy it. But it was so big, and in such good shape, even though the seller did not know what it was, he was going to hold out for what he was asking. So, I left without it.
Later at home, I kicked myself for not getting it!
Then, a few weeks later, I was a a junk store in San Luis, and there it was. This was a very large junk/antique store just beyond the nicer downtown stores. I told the salesperson that I was interested in the ironer, that I knew where she had gotten it, and how much she had paid for it (she was then asking $100). She told me that she had bought for the boss's wife who was Chinese, and she added, "You know how the Chinese love laundry!" But, perplexing to her, the boss's Chinese wife did NOT love laundry, and here it was in the shop. She sold it to me for $40.00. I was so happy
I did learn to use it, and for what I did, surprisingly preferred it to the Ironrite.
Thanks for responding. I understand about the room -- and incidentally, I love to read your postings here.