Mangle

[beekeyknee]

I think I want to get a mangle. I found one at a thrift shop a couple of days ago. It was a GE and it was marked $85.00. I thought that was a little high. I want to iron sheets with it, among other things. How do I get a sheet through it? I suppose I would have to fold the sheet before putting it through, but I wouldn't want to keep creasing the sheet in the same place for fear of causing repeated wear on one area of the sheet. Any suggestions?

 

[danemodsandy]

Mangle Gospel:

Number one - don't get anything but an Ironrite. You can still get parts for Ironrites, which is not always the case with other brands. Service and instruction literature is also readily available.

Number two - you do fold sheets to put them through, as you note. But if you're a very organized housewife, you will fold them in a slightly different place each time to prevent crease breakage. Vintage sheets were a lot nicer than today's, which made them more resistant to the problem.

 

[beekeyknee]

Sandy,

Thanks so much for the information. I was guessing that was the way to iron sheets on a mangle, but thought I should ask to be sure. What do you think would be a good price to pay for a mangle? I guess it would depend on condition?

B.

 

[danemodsandy]

Usually....

$50-$150 will get you something nice.

When you buy one, transport it upright; tranny oil can spill out otherwise.

 

[launderess]

Ironrite Only?

Oh I don't know about that! *LOL*

Have an Ironrite, Frigidaire and Pfaff ironer all of which have their good and bad points.

The Pfaff is built upon the Ironrite design (two open ends) which makes doing some things much easier. However for simple flatwork one often just uses the Frigidaire which does great for 99.9% of the work.

Every ironer has different suggestions on how to iron large flatwork such as sheets, but the basic principles are the same. Yes, you will have to fold the item unless you want to get into fancy movements and several passes to avoid creating creases.

How many times you'll have to fold an sheet or tablecloth depends upon the width of the ironer roller and size of the item. That is by and large what one is ironing must be slightly less than the width of the roller. With the Pfaff, Ironrite and any other ironer that has two open ends one is able to do the center first, then fold and do the not ironed parts to avoid making a center or any other crease. Miele claims you can do the same on their ironers because of the space behind the roller.

 

[whirlcool]

Looking at Ebay the prices being asked for even tatty looking Ironrites is outrageous! In fact just about any ironer is overpriced there. It seems the prices for these things is kind of cyclical. I'd wait for them to go down before buying.

We thought we'd like to try one of these, but we never seem to see any popping up in Texas. In the upper midwest and the east they are plentiful it seems.

 

[beekeyknee]

Yesterday was the first time I've seen one in a second hand shop. But then again, I've never looked very hard.

Greg has an Ironrite that looks nice.

 

[danemodsandy]

In General....

Craiglist seems a better resource for those looking for an Ironrite at reasonable cost. eBay has become a bit pricey for ironers, and more than a bit.

Launderess, I said what I did about Ironrites because it seemed clear to me that what was being looked for was a vintage ironer, not a new one - Brian did, after all, mention that he thought $85 a bit dear. If vintage ironers are being talked about, then Ironrite is a very good choice because of parts availability. A look at the parts selection on eBay for Ironrites vs. other brands will show what I mean - you can often find Ironrite parts, but I've never seen parts for GEs, Conlons, Thor Gladirons or other vintage brands in anything approaching like profusion.

So, that's why I said what I did.

 

[launderess]

Now You Know I Love You More Than My Luggage!

Have no quarrel with you at all. And yes by your reasoning an Ironrite is probably a good choice for a "vintage" ironer.

 

[launderess]

Ironer Prices

Tend to mimic that of vintage appliances in general. Persons seem to believe just because something is old it is worth a lot of money.

As with all vintage appliances the market for such things is limited, and this is especially true of major white goods. We here and perhaps a few other select groups may get excited about a NOS wringer washing machine or some such, but that is pretty much it as far as the general population goes.

Ironers in particular tend not to be hot sellers. All over various eBay EU sites in particular Germany you can find tons of them of all vintages. Some selling for only relative small amounts.

Truth to tell households have changed and those requiring vast amounts of ironed linens are fewer and far between. Even those that do tend to do so only around certain times of the year.

Given current high shipping costs the best hope anyone selling an ironer has is finding someone local that wants. Got my Frigidaire totally free from upstate NY after promising the seller it was going to be used and not scrapped. One suspects from the state of many ironers being offered many were left to rot in basements and or porches after the novelty wore off and use declined.

Shipping Ironrite ironers in particular is challenging because of their girth and the fact the oil should be drained from the gear case. If the thing is kept upright and going a short distance perhaps the last requirement can be waived however.

 

[tennblondie78]

I have the Hotpoint version of the GE mangle. It works beautifully. I got it off Ruby Lane for $50. If you get it, I can give you some info on it.

 

[beekeyknee]

Thank you, Stephanie. I'll keep that in mind, but I'm looking into an Ironrite currently.

B.

 

[combo52]

Vintage Ironers

I started out with an Ironrite 30+ years ago because my brother Jeff worked at an appliance store in the mid 70s that still sold New IRs and also provided factory service as well.

When I got the W Va. house in 1982 I found a 1952 Kenmore [ built by WP ] and did not use it for several years. Finally one rainy weekend I fired up the KM and what a surprising pleasure it was, it is much easier to use than the backwards IR design with the hot shoe in the front. The WP design also has two speeds and is faster than the IR on high speed. It just seemed a much better design which may be why nearly every other ironer was built with the hot shoe in the back.

When my brother Jeff got a bigger house and wanted an ironer I gladly gave him the IR, and I have since gotten a 1958 WP Ironer for my primary residence and it likewise works great.

I know many people that are very happy with their IRs and it may have something to do with what you get used to, but if you intend to use it a lot I would suggest a SXS demonstration at your local appliance dealer, and if that is not possible go to one of Marks [ lighted controls ] ironing parties, he usually has at least a 1/2 dozen different machines in use.

John L.