flatiron
Milltown-Head Bay d'Espoir Museum
Tous droits réservés.
| Nom de l'objet : | flatiron |
| Classification de l'objet : | man-made artefact |
| Catégorie de l'objet : | tools & equipment for science & technology |
| Sous-catégorie de l'objet : | maintenance tools & equipment |
| Discipline : | anthropology history material culture |
| Matériaux : | metal, iron paint |
| Technique de fabrication : | painted cast |
| Numéro de catalogue : | DMHB2004.36.1a-d |
| Fabricant : | James Smart Manufacturing Company Limited Canada |
| Province d'origine : | Ontario |
| Pays d'origine : | Canada |
| Continent d'origine : | North America |
| Province d'utilisation : | pre-confederation Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador |
| Pays d'utilisation : | Canada Dominion of Newfoundland |
| Culture : | Canadian |
| Secteur géo-culturel : | North American |
| Contexte culturel : | laundry |
| Date de fin de production : | c 1900 |
| Période : | early 20th century |
| Description : | This set consists of two black metal irons with one detachable handle and one stand. Each iron is roughly lemon-shaped and has a metal bar running across a recessed area in the top of the iron. The handle is arch-shaped, with a metal strip connecting both ends of the arch. There is a knob in the centre of this strip. The metal stand is shaped like a Gothic arch, and has circular holes around the outside edge. Four strips cross from one side of the stand to another and intersect in the middle, dividing the open area in the centre of the stand into eight smaller sections. |
| Commentaires : | This style of iron, known as a Potts iron, was invented by Mrs. Mary Florence Potts in 1871. Prior to this invention, handles of irons were made of metal, were not removable, and therefore heated up with the rest of the iron. The Potts iron had a removable wooden handle and several iron bottoms. The bottoms could be heated on a stove, and when the iron bottom in use cooled down, it would be placed on the stove to reheat, while the handle would be switched to another, hot bottom, keeping the handle cool. Various other styles of irons with removable handles were tried prior to the Potts iron, but the handles either attached too loosely, or required too much time to secure them to the iron. The James Smart Manufacturing Company, first established as Novelty Works in 1854, was a well-known foundry. It made everything from stoves to hammers to school desks, and its products were both sold and exhibited in countries around the world. It sold this type of iron under the title of "Mrs. Potts' Cold Handle, Double Pointed Smoothing and Polishing Irons." They were generally sold in a set, with three iron bases of different sizes, one handle, and a trivet or stand. It was also possible to purchase replacement iron sizes and handles. The James Smart Mfg. Co. sold these irons plain, like this set, or nickel plated. The double-pointed iron design, like that used for these irons, was also an invention of Mrs. Potts, who designed double-pointed irons to use the back stroke of the ironing motion as well as the forward stroke. This set of irons was donated by Clyde Lilly of Milltown-Head Bay D'Espoir. These irons were used by his mother Maggie Lilly (nee Kearley) to iron items such as clothing, and sheets. |
| Fonctions : | These irons were used for smoothing wrinkles out of clothing and linen. Small metal hooks beneath the knob on the handle would hook under the bar running across the indented area on the top of the iron, attaching the handle to the iron. Pulling up on the knob would cause the hooks to release, allowing the handle to be removed. When an iron had to be set down while it was hot, it would be placed on the stand to ensure that it would not burn anything. |
| Hauteur : | 4.1 (iron 1); 4.7 (iron 2); 9.4 (handle); 2.6 (stand) |
| Longueur : | 17 (iron 1); 16 (iron 2); 25 (handle); 14.5 (stand) |
| Largeur : | 8.1 (iron 1); 8.6 (iron 2); 10.4 (stand) |
| Unité de mesure linéaire : | cm |
| Nombre d'objets : | 1 |
| Nombre de parties composantes : | 4 |
| Nom des parties composantes : | iron bases handle stand |
| Étiquette ou poinçon : | Jas Smart Mfg. Co. Limited Canada |
| Établissement : |
Milltown-Head Bay d'Espoir Museum
 Facebook-Milltown-Head Bay d'Espoir Museum
|
| Ville de l'établissement : | Milltown-Head Bay d'Espoir |
| Province de l'établissement : | Newfoundland and Labrador |
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