Some irons are a steal
Dashing away with the smoothing iron wasn’t much fun on wash day – but when you start collecting them...
IT’S way too early to start thinking about Christmas quizzes, but even so, it would be unfair to include this contraption (see main picture). Even hardened collectors have puzzled over what a “Wanzer Plaiter” is and what it does.
You’ll be able to see it in person later this month in an exhibition titled Pressing Matters (there’s a clue) at the winter Art & Antiques For Everyone fair at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham.
The exhibition is all down to Penny Savill of the British Iron Collectors, a group of like-minded individuals who collect antique flat irons and associated laundry memorabilia.
If you thought flat irons all look the same, you’re mistaken. There’ll be examples of gas and petrol irons, goffering and crimping irons, crested irons, hat and flower irons, travel irons, carpet irons, toy irons and associated pieces such as laundry stoves, a linen press and trivets.
“We will be showing the development of irons with a selection from around the world.
“It’s going to be a fascinating exhibition, not only for collectors but anyone with an interest in domestic history,” Penny says.
Here, she tells me how she began her unusual collection.
So, Penny, what started you collecting?
“IN 1980, I moved into the house in which I still live where I found a heavy old iron in the attic. A farm nearby ran a second-hand furniture business and we found irons lying in the farmyard.
“We had to push the hens off them and wipe off muck and feathers but we took a couple of irons home with us. Once one became three of a kind, a collection was born.
“Keen to learn more, I heard about an exhibition of irons at Bath University and discovered that they belonged to a member of the staff. I contacted her and we arranged to meet in Bath market.
”I had a new interest, and a new friend, which in turn led to many new friends. With their help and encouragement my knowledge grew, and with it my collection.”
How has the market changed since you’ve been collecting?
“IN those days irons that we considered collectable were plentiful and considered by many to be junk. Prices were low and irons were readily available.
“I was fortunate to spend holidays in Vienna, where I found more irons that helped me build my collection. Every Saturday I crept out of the house early in the morning and made my way to the Naschmarkt (flea market) in central Vienna.
“I found irons galore with an average price of about £3 and struggled back to the house weighed down. I flew home with my allowed weight and left the rest for my sister to bring when they next brought the car to England. Some of these I sold to support my collection.
“Today fewer irons are appearing on the market unless a collector disposes of his or her collection and has a specialist auction. There is almost no market at all for many irons, only rare ones really attract any interest. Even then, the market is unpredictable and prices go up and down.”
Where do you prefer to buy? Shops, fairs or online?
“WE attend many of the large antique fairs, enjoy flea markets and car boot sales and I have bought at meetings of iron collectors.
“Buying irons online is difficult because you really need to examine a piece and, of course, there are hefty postal charges for such heavy pieces.”
What is your most exciting find?
“PROBABLY a pleating iron patented in 1928 by Hamilton and Sutton.
“Unused, in a box, it cost £12 in a weekly market. It is square-nosed, has a number of detachable plates that slide into the nose and probably would never have worked as it should.
“We knew it was rare when our expert friend said, ‘Oh, I’ve seen one of those in the Science Museum.’”
Where has been the strangest place collecting has taken you?
“YEARS ago, we travelled through Malaysia and spent one night in a Dayak longhouse in Borneo. At one point, we were sitting in a small group having a discussion with an interpreter.
“I asked: ‘Do you have any old irons, here, please?’ I was told they had and we could see them in the morning. The next day the chief appeared in a loincloth, carrying a blowpipe and a bag.
“He extracted a rusty old charcoal iron and we had to politely decline it. Then he produced a superb Butterfly petrol iron, the likes of which we have never seen before or since.
‘Primitive he may have appeared but he was no fool and we paid a lot for that iron. It was worth every ringgit, though, especially as I was photographed receiving it from the chief.”
Have you a memorable “holy grail” purchase?
“WE were moving from Kyoto to Tokyo and visited a local flea market.
It was taking place in temple grounds – some people were arriving to pray, some were hunting for bargains.
“We wandered around and came to a long stall in front of a large, brown van. Temporary shelves had been erected in front and there – right in the middle, in holy temple grounds – was a water iron that looked a bit like a kettle and resembled no other iron at all – a Holy Grail purchase!
“Frantically I rushed to the end of the stall, across to the shelf and grabbed it before anyone else could take it. I love it!”
Oh, and that Wanzer Plaiter contraption?
Penny reckons it was used for pressing pleats, the heat provided by the iron ingot lifted in and out of the fire using the hook.
The Wanzer company is best known for its sewing machines.