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Nice iron

So was the ironing board cover still in the box? Possibly in my mothers belongings is a 1962 GE dry iron and a 63 Universal (div of GE) steam spray iron. I haven't come across them yet.
 
It's funny how I belong to a Web Site of Laundry buffs but I haven't ironed a thing in over 20 years. I have a system that successfully avoids it. I used to love the colorful braided cords but beyond that, who needs it.
 
I am rather sucessful at avoiding ironing, mostly by piling it up in a basket. There really is something luxurious about a freshly ironed pillow case, if I had more time...

I've found several NIB GE's, Sunbeams, etc. at estate sales, probably gifts that were not needed and put on a shelf. At the rate I use them, I'll never need another iron but my mother uses two constantly for sewing/quilting and after a maddening series of new junky irons, she's sold on the vintage irons for pressing and steaming ability. The durability is far and away better, they just keep going and going.
 
New vintage-design irons.

I have had a Black & Decker "classic" iron for about 6 years and like it a great deal. It is reasonably heavy and does a pretty good job without using so much steam that the clothes are wet when finished like so many modern irons. It is not as good as a true classic GE or K-M iron, but for what's available new today, it is the best I can find. The things my iron is missing that I most wish it had are a spray nozzle on the front and a water sight glass on the side so I could tell how much water was in it. The link below is to the B&D website for my model.

It's the best we can come up with now, but that doesn't mean things weren't better years ago.

Dave

 
Heavy Metals

Irons should be heavy, to make the job of setting creases easier. My mom starches and irons 36 pairs of Wranglers and 36 shirts, every week for the rodeo crew. She has done this for 30 years. The Sunbeam Shot of Steam irons are fabulous and also very scarce. Mom started using Rowenta and swears by them. She uses heavy starch and no steam. Most of them buy the farm when they are dropped, although the Auto Shut Off feature will fail if left to activate too often. I avoid the cheap ones but make sure they have stainless sole plate and HEAVY. I buy any I find in the Thrift Stores and then regift them.
I have a phobia of becoming un organized or messy, like my ancestors. I make myself have the time to follow laundry from the basket to the hanger. No load sitting in the washer, moldy, one in the dryer wrinkled and a pile of folded laundry on the dryer blocking the knobs. I iron while I watch TV.
Kelly
 
Dave your B&D CLassic is an old General Electric design

that dates back to 1953. There are only 2 things- that GE changed over the years besides the color and that was the shape and the amount of the steam holes (circa 1968) and the switch from cloth power cords to rubber (circa 1972). GE changed the holes from the original style elongated ovals to smaller perfectly round holes. Because the holes were smaller they of course added more of them at the same time. Then in 1984 Black & Decker bought GE's small appliance division and just slapped their name on the design. As a matter of fact I have a circa 1968 GE Steam Iron that uses the same blue, orange, & white colors scheme that your Classic Iron uses. PATRICK COFFEY
 
Thanks Patrick,
I never expected that B&D would still be producing a GE design. Although I really wish it had a water sight glass and a sprayer, I still believe that it's the best new iron available. I also know that B&D got control of GE's fan production line in 1984. I wonder what ever happened to them? Sadly, GE's fans were cheapened in the 1950s and after that they never were as good as the older models. I think the last old-design GE fans were the late Vortalex line. The Vortalex is a nice fan, I have a 1947, and I use it most every day. It moves more air QUIETLY than any other fan I have ever used of any vintage.

Thanks for the info,
Dave
 
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