Please date my irons

[launderess]

St. Charles or Other Period Metal Cabinets

Often cannot be found for love nor money.

They are either ripped out and gotten rid of in a redo, often rubbished and or sold for scrap, unless a smart contractor/decorator knows what he/she has and either sells them on, or so forth.

Usually though the hard part is finding those in the colour, size and design required. There was a company (and still may be for all one knows), that did a professional repaint job on St. Charles cabinets (no, it's not as easy as slapping a can of spray paint on them), but think they went under.

St. Charles itself was purchased by another company, but no longer makes metal cabinets.

 

[launderess]

Wall Mounted Ironing Board in Cupboard

Guess you've not seen many "Tom & Jerry" or "Looney Tunes" cartoons then have you? *LOL*

Those types of built in ironing boards were *very* popular from around the 1930's through the 1950's, and are still out there (Nu-Tone to name one source).

Housewives, maids, etc liked the comfort of not having to haul an ironing board out of a closet, set up, iron then put the thing away again. One major problem is the height cannot be adjusted.

 

[austinado16]

Definately seen a million or so period cartoons....grew up with them. In fact, scored a 6hr VHS tape at a yard sale yesterday that's all "real" bugs bunny, pop-eye, superman, mighty mouse, casper, etc. My daughter (10) and I logged a couple hours last night watching about a dozen of them.

Regarding the ironing board, yep, seen a ton of them, just not one as big (tall cabinet) as this one was, and I've never seen an iron storage. That was very cool. I couldn't get them to sell it though.

 

[tlee618]

Todd, the link worked perfectly, thanks to for sharing the history of your restoration. I will look forward to hearing and seeing more about it.

 

[austinado16]

Pictures of the house

Here's a new thread with some of the story, and a few photos.

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www.automaticwasher.org

 

[appliguy]

Todd here is thew skinny on the irons....

The GE iron on the left is a circa 1955 GE steam iron...GE's first steam iron that was a true GE design...the first GE steam iron was a Waring (of blender fame) design that was offered from 1941 to 1952 (Waring also sold a version under it's own name as well). Yours was manufactured from 1953 to circa 1957. The GE ion the middle is from the circa 1972. The main tip off to that is the fact that the cord on the iron is not a cloth cord. According to my research they stopped making irons with cloth cords about 1972. Another tip off of it's date is the Permanent Press marking on the fabric dial. Permanent Press was put on GE iron dials until after 1968. The last iron is a circa 1968 Presto. I know that iron dates from that time period because I have seen your iron in Presto ads in old Life magazines from that period. Actually that style of Presto Iron came out about 1959-60 but it was not until the late 60's that it got the 3 pushbuttons on the handle. All in all if you want to keep one to go with your Rij Jid Ironing board I would keep the GE on the left because that is the only one of the three that is from the 1950's.....PAT COFFEY

 

[appliguy]

Todd here is thew skinny on the irons....

The GE iron on the left is a circa 1955 GE steam iron and was GE's first steam iron that was a true GE design...the first GE steam iron was a Waring (of blender fame) design that was offered from 1941 to 1952 (Waring also sold a version under it's own name as well). Yours was manufactured from 1953 to circa 1960. The first indication that your iron was made before 1960 is the lack of a Wash and Wear setting on the fabric dial. Wash and Wear markings were introduced on GE irons in 1959-60. The GE ion the middle is from the circa 1972. The main tip off to that is the fact that the cord on the iron is not a cloth cord. According to my research they stopped making irons with cloth cords about 1972. Another tip off of it's date is the Permanent Press marking on the fabric dial. Permanent Press was put on GE iron dials until after 1968. The last iron is a circa 1968 Presto. I know that iron dates from that time period because I have seen your iron in Presto ads in old Life magazines from that period. Actually that style of Presto Iron came out about 1959-60 but it was not until the late 60's that it got the 3 pushbuttons on the handle. All in all if you want to keep one to go with your Rij Jid Ironing board I would keep the GE on the left because that is the only one of the three that is from the 1950's.....PAT COFFEY

 

[austinado16]

Thanks for the detailed info! I was starting to lean toward keeping the black corded one due to the possibility that it was actually from the 50's. I have to admit though, I'm kinda loving the Presto for it's features and all the temp settings.

 

[austinado16]

Final decision

After polishing the hot shoe on the 50's GE, it is in it's rightful place, in the holder with the Rigid ironing board. I've decided to keep the Presto, and will probably use it to. It's just too cool to too well built to let it go. Plus, it's in near flawless condition. I'll put the 70's era GE on ebay or CL.

One interesting note. While cleaning up the 50's GE, I found "54" stamped into the chrome plate at the base of the iron where the manufacturing, volts, and wattage info is stamped. I wonder if that's the year model?

 

[austinado16]

1962 Presto Ad

Here's one that's fairly close in style to mine, except mine has the "wings" up front for your thumb to rest on:

 

[austinado16]

1968 Presto

 

[sudsmaster]

I have the same blue-corded GE iron. I can't remember exactly when I bought it, but it was probably in the late '70's or early 80's, before GE sold off its small appliance division to Black and Decker. Black and Decker continued the exact same design for quite a while, as well. It's a good, solid design. Nothing too fancy, but it works just fine.

Also have a much earlier Toastmaster steam iron, with original cloth cord in excellent condition, model 4B2. Have never used it. The sole plate needs cleaning and polishing, and it may also need descaling.

Neither iron has a polarized plug, if that means anything.

Today I use a Rowenta Pro, works great, although I don't think I've ironed anything in a year. My cotton summer shirts need it!

 

[austinado16]

Did a little search on ebay the other day and the GE's are a dime a dozen. I even saw the B&D's that are the same iron. I was surprized that I couldn't find a Presto, not even in the completed's.

Too bad I passed up that cool Westinghouse steam iron a few weeks ago. Would've been a nice one to have.