I had to buy a new iron last night (RANT)

[iheartmaytag]

And I have come to the conclusion--If you want something American made you are going to have to move to China.

They say that Buick is the number one brand in China right now, so it's good to know that somewhere you can find an American product.


In any case my Mother's Black & Decker electronic self-minding iron that was purchased at a garage sale back in 1986 just quit. It would get hot when first turned on but as soon as the thermostat cycled it wouldn't come back on again until it cooled down completely. So in a pinch she trapsed down to Wallyland and bought a Sunbeam. Yes Sunbeam used to be a good American brand--No!! Made in China. She finished the ironing and the next time she went to iron--It wouldn't work. Took it back to Walmart and the cust. service woman just gave her back her money. Mom said that she wanted an exchange, and the woman said "Won't do any good. They are all refurbs anyway and you will be back with it next week."

So we spent the weekend looking at the used stores hoping to find a "Good" iron. No luck. Only thing we found was a 1950-ish GE with frayed cord and it looked like it had been set down with water in it where the sole plate was pitted.

The other Goodwill stores and DAVs were the same story. Mom said "Well people just don't iron anymore."
and I said "well then they should be donating them to the goodwill so we could find them."

We then hit the flea market--nothing usable. If you were a collector you could pay $35 for a flat iron, but since we don't have a woodstove any longer bumpkas.

Mom finally said that she looked as some irons the last time she was at the fabric store. They were a little pricy but felt like good irons. So we's go to Hancock Fabric, and yes the irons were pricy, felt nice in the hand, but when I turned it over. Rowenta is MADE IN CHINA. I refused to pay between $69 and $199 for a German Iron Made in China.

I told Mom, let's try Sear's. There they had the array of China made irons including Rowenta, Black & Decker, Sunbeam but the one that Mom liked the most was a Euro-Pro. "No" I tell her "Their vacuums are crap"
"Well they are all made in china." She said "And this one is 1/2 price."
She had a point at $34 for an electronic 1700w Pressure steam iron it wasn't bad. It had a good balanced feel in the hand, and a nice crisp point at the front. The stainless sole plate is nice and smooth. I know we will be sorry, but we bought a Euro-Pro. I sprung for the $5.95 extended warranty even though everyone says they are worthless. I figure when I have to take it back, it will be easier with no arguement from the warranty people.

As we were leaving we pass the major appliance section Mom says "Well look now that isn't made in China" as she looks at the pretty Kenmore washer on display. "You're right Mom, It's Made in Korea."

 

[lordkenmore]

I positively loathe shopping for anything new. Quality is more often than not lousy, and it's almost impossible to find stuff not made in China.

The most discouraging thing I saw recently was a display of towels, which said "Made in USA" on the shelf, but the towels themselves said "Made in China."

You might consider keeping your eyes open for a used iron in thrift shops, etc. Sooner or later, one should turn up. Even though your mother has a "new" iron, I wouldn't put much faith in it lasting. I also suspect an older iron could perform better. I got an old GE iron, and was stunned by how good the thing is.

 

[iheartmaytag]

LordKenmore,
Very good advice, and we will still keep looking for a "good" iron at used stores. In Mom's go getter years she was a big garage saler, but now she is more limited to the access of her wheelchair. Still garage sales and estate sales appear to be where I will find the never used, still in the box with the gift wrap attached Hotpoint.

 

[chuffle]

A good iron will turn up...

...because I have found a couple of GE irons (with sole plates that are in very good condition) that I picked up at thrift shops.

There's nothing like the heft of a vintage iron to get the job done, and the ones from the 60s and 70s steam very well. Just keep looking!

Lord K: I know what you mean about towels. I have seen towels with the words "Made in the USA of imported materials" printed on the care labels.

Sad.

Joe

 

[rayjay]

Euro Pro

Good luck with the Euro Pro Iron. Ours barely lasted a year.

 

[austinado16]

I'm with you all the way!

I hate shopping for anything....so I basically don't. It's all just junk now, and because Walmart rules the world, there's no finding anything else better, IMO. If I go to a different store, I just pay more for the exact same China junk.

That's why I literally have nothing but vintage appliances in our house.

In fact, my mom was just here and I was showing her the 3 vintage irons I scored at an estate sale for $2ea. She complained how bad her Rowenta was, so I gave her the Mid-70's GE Steam Iron that was one of the 3 I'd brought home. It was still in beautiful shape, and I polished the sole plate for her, so it was smooth and shiny again.

You ought to take that old iron of hers apart, and fix the temp control assembly. They're easy to work on.

And yes, grab another "real" iron, either on ebay where they are a dime a dozen. The old GE's on ebay are $5-$9 all day long, or keep your eye out locally on CL and at yard sales, etc.

 

[rll70sman]

I have the exact same rant as well! I ABSOLUTELY DETEST THAT COUNTRY! And here in the United States we're gullible enough to buy into all the lies that come forth from the evil Chinese government. It'll destroy us yet if we don't pay attention.

 

[mixfinder]

Heavy Man

Harley,
I have a nice General Electric Iron from the late 60's. Custard colors with green temp control. It has a spray, water level window and self cleaning button. It is as new. If you would like it, I am more than happy to send it to you.
Kelly

 

[paulg]

Keep lookin'

I cannot agree with y'all more.
Sure people think I'm nuts because I have four MIB steam irons. But hey, at estate sales I pay about $5 each. Two I alternate for everyday use. I've been using these GE and HOOVER irons for years with no decrease in performance. I am keeping the other two as replacements as I never want to buy another non-American iron again for as long as I live.
I had a similar experience with hand-mixers.Although I have a wonderful 10 year old KitchenAid mixer, I often use a 1958 MIB GE mixer that worked perfectly out of box and is very powerful. I gave a 1970's MIB GE mixer (USA) to a niece who went away to school and a 1970s Sunbeam (USA) MIB to another niece.
These items make nice gifts. My nieces will probably not need another mixer for years. The key here is to buy these MIB wonderful American products as you find them then put them away until you need them.
Don't get me started with drip coffeemakers. Went through a few of them until I settled on a 1960 GE-Universal (USA). Geee... Has it been making coffee every morning for SEVEN YEARS????

 

[lordkenmore]

If I go to a different store, I just pay more for the exact

This is something I notice all the time. And not just Chinese junk. I do most of my grocery store shopping at Fred Meyer. (One stop shopping, on a level with Target, but with a real grocery store.) Sometimes, I wander into QFC, which was bought out by Fred Meyer years ago, and am stunned at what I see. Mostly the same stuff. Apart from specialty items, the only real difference I see is the heart-stopping price increase. And yet, there are people who insist on shopping QFC and wouldn't be caught dead in Fred Meyer.

 

[lordkenmore]

"The key here is to buy these MIB wonderful American products as you find them then put them away until you need them."

I won't deny MIB is nice, but it's not entirely necessary. I buy a lot of stuff used--in some cases well used--for which the box is nothing but a very vague memory. And yet, it continues to work reliably, and probably outlast the modern Chinese equivalent or two or five hundred.

 

[supersuds]

I got a nice "new" 1970-ish Westinghouse from ebay.

My worst ebay experiences have been with irons. The very first auction I won was a Sunbeam "steam" iron, and the seller's description said she plugged it in and it steamed great. The iron she sent was just a plain old non-steam version, even though the picture clearly showed steam vents. I got my money back. Scum.

Others have had scuffed sole plates that didn't show up well in the pictures. But after 4 tries I finally got a great iron!

 

[brisnat81]

Do Philips/Norelco still sell irons in the US?

Over here, they're made in Singapore and we've had much better luck than with the Chinese made Sunbeams.

 

[austinado16]

Hi have a Norelco from 1990ish and it's great

I bought a Norelco at Costco in about '89/'90. Teflon soleplate, steam and double steam, spray, self clean. It's been a great iron and we still use it. I only just recently stumbled across the 3 vintage irons and couldn't resist them!

Regarding the comment about the scuffed sole plates on the used ebay (or otherwise) irons. These are super easy to polish. I've just done the 3 irons I picked up. I start with water and 600grit wet/dry sand paper. Keeping the sand paper wet (I do this over the sink) I use my whole open hand to polish the finish. I rinse often, and keep polishing. I go in one direction....up and down the sole plate. My 600 grit was previously used, so if you're starting with fresh paper, you might try 800, or even 1,000. Or start with 600, then go to 800, and then finish with 1,000.

Anyway, after about 5min with the 600, I dry it off and come back with Simichrome metal polish and a soft towel. The finish becomes mirror-like in just a few minutes and the irons glide over fabric as if they were riding on air. For touch-ups after use, just a quick pass with the Simichrome is all that's needed.

The more time you spend with the 1,000 and 1,500 grit paper, wet, the nicer finish you'll get with the Simichrome!

 

[supersuds]

Thanks for the tip. That's one thing you couldn't do with a teflon soleplate!

I haven't seen a Norelco iron on sale for a long time, but I haven't been looking, either.

 

[danmantn]

The new Buick Lacrosse was completely designed in China ... Only assembled in the US/Mexico...next step is to build them there I guess. My grandfather is rolling in his grave.

 

[austinado16]

Hecho en Mexico

At the risk of starting another rant, it's hard to believe that the whole "build US vehicles in Mexico" is still being allowed. Blows my mind that GM can get a fat check from the government and yet still be allowed to have vehicles built by cheap labor where no pollution controls or labor laws exist......and that goes for any of the auto makers building their stuff in Mexico.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

I just bought a new iron today and wanted to tell you about it.... it's an Oliso itouch steam iron... it was 120 dollars at Joann's. It stays horizontal and raises off the ironing board automatically when touched. It seems really cool and I like it a lot so far, but I've only had it a few hours, we'll see how it hold up to rushed every day work clothes ironing and if it starts to leak! Look up Oliso iron on Youtube to see it!

 

[countryguy]

I have had the Oliso iron for a couple of irons. It is a neat gadget how it raises up and down off the ironing board when released/touched however I don't find it to be a very powerful steam iron at all. It takes longer to heat up. The first one I had spit water from the front of the iron. Oliso replaced it free of charge and so far I haven't had the same problem.

Gary