January 25, 2008



Show & Tell Friday
A Cast Iron "Flat Iron"



Thanks for joining me again for another show and tell Friday hosted by our wonderful friend, Kelli. Today I am showing you what my great grandmother used when she ironed clothes! This iron is made out of cast iron and if you've ever heard the expression "heavy as lead," that would certainly apply to this iron. I wish y'all could have a chance to pick it up because you would be amazed at how truly heavy it is. I bet my great grandmother developed some pretty hefty muscles using this thing! As you can see by the above picture it was very well used! Since the iron is made completely from cast iron I would imagine that she would have to use some kind of "hot pad" in order to pick it up. This is only a guess but I would think she must have put laid it over hot coals in her fireplace. If anybody knows anymore details I would love to hear them. I am the first one to always say that their were many wonderful things about living in the "good old" days, but in this case I'd take a good Sunbeam any day:o)


As you can see the handle is cast iron, as well. The writing on the handle reads K.S. (next thing I can't make out) R. Co.

It rests by our fireplace today!

14 comments:

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Very beautiful....Mary

Susan said...

I have an old one, too. It's my understanding they put them on the range cooktops of the old wood burning stoves and potbelly stoves.
Susan

Lallee said...

I'll never complain about ironing again......or I'll try not to complain ;-)

NHizName said...

Yes, I think Susan is right on this one...I think they did heat them on their wood burning cook stoves. We have 2 that my husband's mom gave us....not sure if she ever used them or if they were given to her by her mom or grandmother. Ours are black cast iron....very heavy and I use them for bookends on my husband's desk.

Julieann said...

OHHH, I want that!!! It is soooo beautiful, Susan.

Julieann

ellen b. said...

Very cool and I think you chose a great place to display it...

Anonymous said...

My Mother had a couple of old irons that had belonged to my grandmother. I believe that my baby sister had them today. We used them as bookends when I was growing up.

Your blog is always so cheerful. I love it.

-Cookie

Unknown said...

My husband and eldest son picked up two cast iron irons at a garage sale. They are sitting in the basement, very rusty and dirty. How did you ever get yours so clean?

Sharon said...

I love the old iron and so glad I did not ever have to use one like that. I love the clothes of yesterday but not the iron. Thank you for coming to Amelia Rose Cottage and playing paper dolls with me. Have a wonderful weekend my friend.

Mimi said...

Hi Susan,
My husband's mother actually used one and she put in on her wood burning stove to get it hot..
I now use it as a book end...and it works great as such...

Kelli said...

Wow! What a wonderful treasure, Susan! I sure looks heavy!
Kelli

Cheryl said...

How great to have your great-grandmothers old iron. I've seen those used as paper weights and even door stops.... hmmmm now I want one lol

Anonymous said...

I love "Old" things. I have not seen this style of iron before. I have a different style that my grandmother used.

Rose of Sharon said...

What a great piece! It is so neat with the writing molded right on it. I have one of my mother's old irons from her childhood, it is a lingerie traveling iron and it is so cute because it is really small.

:0) Sharon