Old iron artefact found
An old flat iron or sad iron (circa mid18th century) was found last Thursday by Philip Johnson who stubbed his toe on it while revisiting his old stamping ground of Bowentown.
Philip and his family were regular visitors to Bowentown and Waihi Beach when he was a young lad and Philip still visits regularly to catch up with old friends and play tennis at the Waihi Beach Tennis Club.
The iron was uncovered in the area where his family had their bach. It could have belonged to his grandmother. The iron was one of the artefacts at the Discover the History of Waihi Beach, Bowentown and Athenree at Waihi Beach Community Centre.
Ironing traditional fabrics without the benefit of electricity was a hot, arduous job. Irons had to be kept immaculately clean, sand-papered and polished. They had to be kept away from burning fuel and be regularly but lightly greased to avoid rusting. Beeswax prevented irons sticking to starched cloth. Constant care was needed over temperature. Experience would help decide when the iron was hot enough, but not so hot that it would scorch the cloth.
A well-known test was spitting on the hot metal, but Charles Dickens describes someone with a more genteel technique in The Old Curiosity Shop. She held “the iron at an alarmingly short distance from her cheek, to test its temperature...”
Although the handle was missing, this iron may have had a changeable handle.