Pants presser

[goatfarmer]

by General Electric.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Gen...No-Ship-/331769048633?&_trksid=p2056016.l4276

 

[tomturbomatic]

Actually the thing is a flat plate ironer and it was sold in competition with roller ironers or mangles. When CU rated ironing appliances, this type of machine was judged slower, even with flat pieces.

 

[launderess]

Consumer Reports

No, didn't really like flat plate ironers. Most of the quibbles came from the endless positioning required and limits on doing "fancy" garments items.

Have three flat plate ironers (two vintage Hurley and one Elna) and while they do have their uses mostly stick with one of my ironers.

Where flat plate presses do shine is the ability to do several layers at once. This is handy because for sheets and table cloths you *will* be folding them in half or quarters because they just won't fit otherwise.

Where flat plate ironers do shine is in their traditional use in laundries/dry cleaners; pressing garments/textiles instead of ironing. Trouser, jackets, lace table textiles, that sort of thing.

A few of our members have GE flat plate ironers: http://www.automaticwasher.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?44198_3

 

[launderess]

For certain things will haul out one of the Hurley presses.

Contour/fitted bed sheets are easier done on a press rather than fighting to get them through an ironer. It does vary but those with elastic all way around edges are a chore to do on an ironer, but easier to do on a press, especially if folded into quarters.

Commercial laundry workers refer to positioning things on the press buck as "lays". Depending upon what is being pressed and the size of the buck (the ironing board part of the press if you will), and how it is shaped you can be moving things around quite a lot. Trick is to know how to go about things so you don't muss up sections already done when moving on.



When you are ready to run with the big dogs:

 

[ovrphil]

Need to get one of those Blanca presses, thanks for posting that one, Launderess.

 

[launderess]

Blanca Press

Aren't sold in the USA. You might find one someone brought over with them on eBay or CL. That and or being offered for sale on fleapay with international shipping.

Problem would be the voltage requirements. If the thing doesn't mind "American" 208v -240v (two hots, a ground and separate neutral) then you'll be fine. OTOH if it will only work with European power you'll need a pretty large sized transformer that can handle the power load.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blanca-Press-PSV-BlancaPress-Ironing/dp/B007RKLB68

http://www.blancapress.co.uk/

 

[ovrphil]

Thanks Launderess -

1) I just found one in Asheville, a little ride from here, but not so far. I realised that it wasn't sold in the USA when my searching ended up on Amazon.uk.com. So, whoever is selling it, I'd have to make sure (as it's used) that it would work with US voltage. There's no indication it would, though. (see link)

2) Another one - which I'm not familiar with - Steamfast, here on CL :

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/app/5404768959.html

http://asheville.craigslist.org/app/5398942728.html

 

[launderess]

Have a vintage Hurley Press would sell on for much less

As don't require both units.

The "steam press" looks like one of the Chinese knockoffs of famous Singer Press.

Looking at the specs don't see why the BP wouldn't run on American "220" power. But best ask the owner.

http://www.ironingsupplies.co.uk/Blanca-Press-Professional.html

 

[tolivac]

Interesting videos on the Blanco clothes pressers.The home sized one looks even easier to use than the roller ones.
That commercial industrial one---CAREFUL there-you have to get the "rythem" of the machine-Does this have a presence "senser" to detect wether the operator is under the platen so it won't come down unless the operator is away from the presser.I would think this would have to have sensers like many metal presses do.And is the hand held device the user pushing over the item-an iron of some sort?Too bad that video doesn't have narration to tell you what was going on.Interesting,though.

 

[ovrphil]

Launderess - we aren't rushing out to buy right now - would not want to really do shipping costs; just pick up local. But I will keep in mind, the Hurley. Thank you. Speaking of Singer...Amazon sells that one and I wondered if it was just a cheap chi-knees product.

I didn't see any sign of safety there - you either moved fast enough out of the way or get folded into the garment, it appeared.

 

[tolivac]

Don't hink that presser would meet US OSHA safety standards-they would require a presence sensor-light curtain,Ultrsound sensor,etc that would prevent the press platen from descending on the operator unless he was clear of the sensors.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Or have the switch to lower the plate located 6 feet away, bolted to the floor or wall.

 

[tolivac]

Yes,that would be OK-the remote control for the platen.A light or buzzer would need to sound to warn other workers to stay away.