Ironer Fans Take A Look At This

[launderess]

What one finds strange is that this ironer is an exact replica of Thor's GladIron models. Bizarre

Launderess

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13919&item=6543739310&rd=1

 

[retromom]

Crisp is how I like it!

Dang! Why can't this be closer to Texas! I could certainly use one!

 

[michaelman2]

Unusual Brand

Hey Laundress...I too had never seen this brand before. You are right it does look like your Thor. I am still waiting for a rotary iron with steam to be produced here in the states. With laundry rooms being the new big deal, I am sure we will at least see more rotary iron/mangles being hawked.

 

[toggleswitch]

Laundress and fellow enthusiasts,

Tell me more about rotary irons, do these do more than flat pieces?

 

[gansky1]

I used the Kenmore ironer over the weekend and loved it. I ran a queen size duvet cover, 6 pillow cases and 4 dishtowels through with perfect results in under 20 minutes. The duvet cover alone would have taken that long on a conventional ironing board. I had a 1947 Ironrite that I used a few times but it didn't run very well so I donated it to Toyota. The Kenmore belonged to a friend of mine who wanted it out of his way, Terry and I cleaned it up for the convention and now it's downstairs, soon to be joined by the 1950 Kenmore washer and dryer set. I've not tried to do any shirts or other clothing on it, I would imagine that takes some aquired skill, but for large items and flatwork, it's a must have!

 

[launderess]

May Have A Lead To A Thor GladIron

Friend of mine has a Thor GladIron which is knackered (thermostat is broken/unit won't heat). She called me asking if I wanted it for "parts", but as I have my Pfaff ironer, rarely use the Thor. So if anyone in the North East wants one of these cheap that they can either part out or fix up, let me know. Really would hate to see the ironer go to the curb, but she is giving up on vintage ironers and getting a Miele.

Launderess

 

[launderess]

Michaleman,

Doubt if you'll see domestic rotary ironers with steam boilers in the United States anytime soon, as they require way to much power for simple 120v operation. My Pfaff needs 2,500v just for the heater alone. Add another 1000 watts if you use the steam boiler and you have a current requirment which needs at least single phase 220v/240 power, though commercial steam mangles prolly work off triple or double phase power.

My Pfaff is sucking down so much power, have to operate it on medium until electrican puts in a new 220v line on our panel for it. Running it off a step up transformer is fine for low and medium, but at high the poor trannie shorts out after several uses.

If one is "ironing dry", steam is not needed anyway. Pfaff sells their ironer with steam on the angle it saves housewife from having damp/wet laundry in her lap. Haven't tried the steam feature yet (for the above reasons), so cannot say if this method is better.

One thing I will say in favour of modern mangels over some vintage ironers, is the ability to control the roller speed. Both Pfaff and Miele have three speeds (controlled by foot pedal). This allows one to slowly process very damp ironing so it emerges almost dry,and very crisp! My Thor GladIron only has one speed so laundry must be at the right amount of dampness; not to wet or not to dry. Too wet and one pass will not dry/iron properly. Too dry and one runs the risk of scorching whatever one is mangling.

Launderess

 

[michaelman2]

Ironers continued

Laundress..Have been away and just read your post. I usually take items damp from the dryer and then use the Ironrite. As you see I am into immediate gratification. I wonder why the units take so much juice to produce steam. I tried to iron once of Ken's shirts the other day using a hand iron and either I am WAY out of practice using a hand iron or I have become proficient on the mangle. I am beginning to itch for that Mele, you are right on the speed control on the roll, it makes a big difference with linens/garments that are a bit too damp...

 

[launderess]

Michaelman2

Welcome back! Hope you had a nice holiday!

Ironers with steam: My Pfaff can steam for one hour and holds quite a bit of water. IMHO powerful heating is required to produce "dry" steam like one finds in commercial laundry appliances (like Miele ironers, Pfaff units are also marketed to small and mid-sized laundries). Dry steam means less work for the ironer/person ironing as one/the unit does not have to evaporate excessive moisture to iron. This results in smoother and neater ironing. It also means your ironing won't get a crumpled/wrinkled look soon after being ironed or moved too soon after ironing.

Also my Pfaff comes up to steam on a full tank in about several minutes, and am here to tell you the one time I used the feature it forced out steam like a champ.

Shirts:

Have a vintage Proctor ironing table (long and wide rectangular ironing board that has a flip down end), and can do shirts faster on it than with using a press. Would never put shirts through a mangle as too afraid of buttons being cracked.

Ironing a shirt on a board isn't hard once one gets a system down. Again can do them faster by hand than all the palaver of moving/adjusting items on a mangle or press. Collars and cuffs especially those that have lots of fabric that moves about need hand ironing to prevent creases like one sees from dry cleaners shirts.

Thor GlaidIron:

Helped my friend shove her GladIroner to the curb and watch as it was taken away. Did manage to salvage the roller cover and "wings" though. Those things are heavy! Someone is going to get a nice penny for scrap metal. Really amazing all that cast iron and metal. Guess it was state of the art in the 1940's and 50's but she didn't want a heavy "door stop" lying around her house, and fixing it would have been a bear if not impossible.

Launderess

 

[michaelman2]

Laundress

I am intreigued with that Pfaff unit. You know I saw several weeks ago a unit that had "Ironrite/Pfaff" on the forming board. I would have thought that someone had just confused the two had I not seen the picture. I am wondering if Pfaff took the engeneering form the old Ironrite patent and made them for a while. I can not find anything to support my theory except for the picture of the unit that was on Ebay.
Girl, I bet that dry steam really does a job.

I use the Ironrites for everything and buttons don't get popped or cracked if I iron them to the roll and not against the shoe. I have to admit that I have a board like the Proctor that you use, and I will at time touch up things with it. Before I started using a mangle, I would turn the board with the broad side to my left and fit the shirt into the corner, as though it were on a shoulder and then iron. I alomst never used the narrow end of the board.

Poor ol Thor....I bet he is scared and sitting around just waiting to be crushed. That was a heavy lil deal for you guys to be a schleppin!

When you mentioned repairs, I have an old service manuel from Ironrite that listed all of the mechanisms and the parts as well as the old parts list and catalog. I have an issue as I type this with my 95, the roll wants to go up and down all by itself. I am really at odds on who to call to look at the thing, any suggestions. I was going to call an appliance place here in Atlanta but I suspect that when I tell them what it is they will say "what is that". My hunch is that anyone with a mechanical mind would be able to diagnose the problem??
Thanks for the nice words on the holiday..hope all is great with you!...

 

[launderess]

Pfaff Ironer

Hate to tempt you but.....

There are several UK vendors that seem to offer "worldwide" shipping on these units. Soooooooooo.....

You can Google "Pfaff Ironer" to find them, but considering the exchange rate between pounds and dollars you are looking at a quite dear sum to be the proud owner of a Pfaffie.

Yes, it was sad to see the Thor go, but what could she do? Mike Arnold is the only person I know who repairs these things, and it would have to have been shipped/taken to his shop. Thor GladIrons do NOT ship well (the base is a strong but brittle type of cast iron), and damage is not uncommon. The most frequent damage is when the cast iron base plate snaps off near the area of the spring. Once that happens one is really out of luck as the metal must be welded back together and not all welders want to do the job.

My advice for those seeking a vintage ironer is to go with Ironrites or later models of GE,Kenmore,Speed Queen etc; anything produced up until the 1960's will at least stand a better chance of finding spare parts. Thor's can only be repaired by finding another unit to raid for parts. Keeping a 60 year old ironer working for weekly use is not an easy task, made more difficult if they are not new to begin with.

Now that Miele makes a 120v ironer, think many will consider going that route since parts and service are easier. Mind you one is still spending quite a bit of money,but OTHO there is not the worry of being out of pocket should the unit stop working.

Proctor ironing boards are a gem! Cannot think why they stopped production and why no one else picked up the design.
I do shirts by first flipping down the edge to to the collar and yoke. With the edge fliped up the surface is ready for sleeves, and body. Nice thing about the Proctor is both ends are square, so one can do even large items like flatwork easily. Am always on the look out for another, but am told these units are rare and held dear by those whom have one.

Pfaff and Ironrite.

Like Ironrite Pfaff makes a great deal of promoting the fact their ironer's heating plate is at the bottom allowing heat naturally rise thus being more efficient.

Launderess

 

[Conroyjan]

General Electric ironer

We recently had an AR20 General Electric ironer given to us. It has two heat switches, left and right, and two different speeds. It also has to two controls, finger tip syncronized with a knee control and aemergency release in case of current failure. It is important to have items damp (or keep a spray bottle of water nearby) and using either spray starch or sizing gives the fabric a professional touch. We can iron most everything, not just 'flats'! We were able to purchase a vintage Speed Queen ironer manual & an Ironrite ironing chair online. Ron refurbished the chair then we added a GE logo on the chair. It won "Best in Class at our local county fair. We are very much sold on a mangle ironer! We go with the motto "Well pressed, is Well Dressed!" Ron and Janice---

 

[michaelman2]

County Fair!

Conrojan...great story about the fair..congrats....I bet many of the people there had never even seen an ironer.

 

[Sewstress]

Gladiron

I recently picked up a Gladiron with a "Free - Works Perfect" sign on it in a driveway. I have to admit it was quite heavy and I had a hard time getting it in my trunk but I was determined. My husband thinks it's just another piece of junk but it is in excellent condition and still has the original roller cover on it. The muslin cloth looks like it has never been used. When we were kids we used to have a mangle, it was great! I had never seen a Gladiron or heard of one before, that's how I found your website, by doing a search. Anyway I haven't used it yet. Does anyone know the value? or is it worth more for me to keep it for pressing?
Thanks! The Sewstress

 

[michaelman2]

Gladiron

Sewstress, First of all welcome...second, you found a great machine. Another member, Laundress, has one of these and from what I can remember uses it along with other ironers and irons that she has. Ihave not seen many user guides for the Gladiron, but there are booklets fo the Ironrite units all the time on Ebay. The Gladiron has the shoe (the iron plate) on top of the roll so that would be somewhat like the Miele Rotary Iron that is still in production. Read up the threads you will find some more information on ironers/mangles...

 

[launderess]

Lady Be Seated

Welcome Sewstress

Yes, have a ThorGlad iron but am spoiled for choice when it comes to ironing/pressing equipment if you read my previous posts.

Value of any vintage ironer can vary. Have seen Ironrites fail to sell at $25, others have sold for over $400. Much depends upon your local area, as cabinet model ironers like the Ironrites, and Thor Gladirons are VERY heavy and cost dear to ship. Thor GladIrons have the additional problem that if not packed correctly, they most will certianly snap at the base during shipping.

Be all this as it may, love my GladIron but find myself spoiled my larger Pfaff as I can control the roller speed. With the Thor ironers you really have to find the right dampness for perfect results, or you will have to do multiple passes to get the darn things dry; and or risk scorching.

Have the manual for my GladIron somewhere, if you are interested can perhaps copy and send it along. Won't be probably until later this Fall when thing simmer down around here and have time to hunt for it.

Welcome to the wonderful world of mangle ironing!

Launderess