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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Ironclad

What's It Wednesday #93

Humans have been removing unsightly wrinkles from clothes for hundreds of years. The Chinese were the first to use hot metal to iron clothing. During the 19th century the Europeans used anything from wood, and metal to glass for smoothing out fabrics. 


This hefty guy originally hailed from India. The base of this iron housed very hot, glowing charcoal. In India, it was quite common for your clothes to be pressed by a gentleman known as a press wallah. These guys must have been the original Iron Man. <insert rimshot here> :-)

The holes in the hinged lid allowed for the coal to smolder continuously. I just love the sturdiness of these works of art. 

These irons were in use way before electricity. They were the "Rowenta" of their day, cutting edge technology. This lovely lady is heated by gasoline. The tank is where the fuel was housed for ironing. 

I use these beautiful technological advances of their day as fabulous...
...ironclad doorstops. 
What is your favorite "hot" invention?

xoxoxo
Paula

Thanks to all of you who partied with us last week. Please link-up and join us again. Remember, it's not a party without you!


Here are this Week's Features:

The Fancy Shack

Heaven's Walk

Idyllhours

Just Paint it White

The Refeathered Roost

Orchard Girls


Don't Forget to Add a Feature Button!
Ivy and Elephants


We are partying with these fine folks:
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58 comments:

  1. KatheSeptember 25, 2013 at 9:14 PM

    Love your vintage irons! How cute to use in decor :-) Thanks so much for hosting!

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  2. Sandi@ Rose Chintz CottageSeptember 25, 2013 at 9:15 PM

    You always share something interesting. The iron looks like it weighs a ton. Great door stopper! Thanks for hosting and Happy Autumn! Blessings, Sandi

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  3. Phyllis @Around the HouseSeptember 25, 2013 at 9:15 PM

    I simply adore your vintage irons...they are so beautiful, they conjure up all kinds of visions of all the ladys ironing and all that steam everywhere...thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures...Phyllis

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  4. TrishaSeptember 25, 2013 at 9:22 PM

    Irons really are very cool with so much history...but I still don't iron unless I absolutely have to! Thanks for letting me join in this week!

    ~Trisha

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  5. UnknownSeptember 25, 2013 at 9:27 PM

    Love the irons! I'm always wanting to pick one up when i see one but haven't yet. Think I'm going to have to change that! :)

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  6. Julie MarieSeptember 25, 2013 at 9:37 PM

    Hello Paula... what a fabulous collection of irons you have... and so fun using them as a doorstop!... thanks so much for featuring my post... I am flattered... loved seeing all of your other features too... Happy Autumn to you!... xoxo Julie Marie Hello Patti!

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  7. JP September 25, 2013 at 9:52 PM

    I just love anything vintage and your irons are wonderful!
    I made it to the party, a bit earlier that usual,just by stopping by. Just wondering why your invites haven't arrived yet?

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  8. FABBY'S LIVINGSeptember 25, 2013 at 9:53 PM

    Oh dear Paula, you never seise to surprise me with your fabulous vintage things, like these awesome vintage irons,wow! I had one many years ago and I think it's in storage somewhere! Thank you so much for hosting this terrific party...so happy to join. Big hugs,
    FABBY

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  9. KarenSeptember 25, 2013 at 9:55 PM

    A gas powered iron? who knew. Those irons are real works of art. I learn something every time I come here. Thanks for hosting.

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  10. Mary@mydogsmygardenandmarySeptember 25, 2013 at 9:57 PM

    Your collections of vintage irons is great. I can picture women doing their ironing on Tuesday's, because Monday was wash day. Thanks for bringing back so many lovely memories.
    Mary

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  11. Happy To Be/ Gl♥riaSeptember 25, 2013 at 10:01 PM

    I love coming by here and seeing all your wonderful antiques..I don't blog anymore..maybe one day soon I will but I still love to read them and you girls have always been one of my favorites..I have a collection of old irons in my laundry room..they are so fun to decorate with but so heavy to pick up..Take care my sweet friends..Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  12. ReviSeptember 25, 2013 at 10:05 PM

    WOW. Those irons are SO cool. Thanks for hosting us. :)
    -Revi

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  13. AnonymousSeptember 25, 2013 at 10:15 PM

    What a great collection of vintage irons! I always learn so much from you. Thanks a bunch for the feature.Have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  14. ShannonSeptember 25, 2013 at 11:44 PM

    You look at those and realize how far technology has come! Thanks for hosting.

    Shannon ~ bohemianjunktion.com

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  15. The Polka Dot ClosetSeptember 26, 2013 at 12:19 AM

    OMG, I can't believe they ironed with coal!!! I never knew that! You have more collections and more knowledge in more areas than anyone I know! Wow!

    Carol

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  16. SwedishCorner ~ DownUnder...PernillaSeptember 26, 2013 at 2:51 AM

    Oh, I have one similar to yours, Paula!! Thanks for the party :) Awesome features from last week. I'm always enjoying all these Autumn posts during this season. Hugs and Spring greetings from Australia♥ ~Pernilla

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  17. fiona andersonSeptember 26, 2013 at 3:22 AM

    I think ironing would have become pretty tiring, using one of those !
    Thank you so much for featuring my shabby cabinet, I'm glad you liked it !

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  18. UnknownSeptember 26, 2013 at 6:49 AM

    Very interesting reading about the various types of vintage irons and seeing pictures of them. Thanks for hosting and have a good day.

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  19. BabsSeptember 26, 2013 at 7:15 AM

    Loved reading about vintage irons. Yours looks like the top of the line in it's day. I have an old, simple one that belonged to my grandmother. I use it as a book end to hold up my cookbooks. Thanks for hosting a great party.

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  20. must love junkSeptember 26, 2013 at 7:35 AM

    You've got such an interesting story to tell, as always!! I don't even iron now...I sure wouldn't have then-ha!! :)
    Thanks for hosting!
    Susan

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  21. UnknownSeptember 26, 2013 at 8:25 AM

    i have one almost exactly like this and i use it as a doorstop! happy grey dey thursdey! ;)

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  22. Jeannie MarieSeptember 26, 2013 at 8:44 AM

    Love all that iron! It's just so hard to imagine actually using it! I have one and it's so heavy. It really was a chore to heat them up and iron with the steam rising in your face on a sweltering summer day...sans air conditioning.

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  23. Linda (More Fun Less Laundry)September 26, 2013 at 9:34 AM

    I have my grandmother's iron that was heated by placing it on the stovetop. It is so heavy! And small too! I can't imagine how she raised nine children with the appliances available then. I guess priorities were different. It has taught me to stop complaining about ironing! Linda

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  24. ~Lavender Dreamer~September 26, 2013 at 9:38 AM

    I've never seen one like this. I've seen the old flat irons that were heated on the stove and weighed a ton. I actually like to iron and have 2 old aprons to iron today! Sweet hugs!

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  25. Curtains in My TreeSeptember 26, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    you amaze me with you knowledge and you must have a warehouse full of vintage items since every week we are educated with more vintage treasure you have

    thanks for the party

    Janice

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  26. Marty@A Stroll Thru LifeSeptember 26, 2013 at 10:10 AM

    Oh I love your irons, they are so fun. I have a small collection too and I really love them. Thanks so much for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

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  27. Crafts a la ModeSeptember 26, 2013 at 10:44 AM

    Thanks for the party. I love your old irons. Wow. Linda

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  28. Gina @ VictorianWannaBeSeptember 26, 2013 at 10:44 AM

    Hi Paula,
    What an iron collection you have! They do make great doorstops, don't they?
    Thanks for hosting and have a great day!
    Gina

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  29. LVSeptember 26, 2013 at 11:00 AM

    Enjoyed your vintage iron presentation. I have one that belonged in my family, but not like these you shared.

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  30. Jillian's Bella Rosa AntiquesSeptember 26, 2013 at 11:29 AM

    Oh yes! Ironing...still don't like doing it but those irons are really neat!

    Be sure to stop by my blog today...I have pics of some other really OLD antiques! :)

    JIllian

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  31. Nellie's Cozy PlaceSeptember 26, 2013 at 11:42 AM

    Hi Paula,
    All those vintage irons are amazing.
    I remember my grandmother had several and they were the type that you were
    using as a door stop, only her didn't have anything else on it but the handle, think they set it on the stove or in the fire to heat it first I guess........Glad we don't have to
    do that........I mainly use a steamer now, but ocasionally I still drag the iron out. lol

    Thanks for hosting this fun party.
    blessings, Nellie

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  32. JillybarbSeptember 26, 2013 at 12:25 PM

    I so enjoy your sweet, sweet blog. What fun it was to look at your irons. You always make me look at vintage finds in a new way. Thank you for sharing all your insight, you are so interesting to read.

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  33. Judy at GoldCountryCottageSeptember 26, 2013 at 1:35 PM

    Thank you, Paula, for hosting this week. My daughter and I are off to do the breast cancer walk in San Francisco..Happy Thursday..Judy

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  34. Treat and TrickSeptember 26, 2013 at 1:41 PM

    My grandma used that kind of iron! Thanks for the party dear..

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  35. AlessandraSeptember 26, 2013 at 3:55 PM

    What great idea to use them as doorstops! I love this collection of irons. Every time i stop over your blog, i learn something very interesting
    Kisses
    Alessandra

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  36. lynn cockrellSeptember 26, 2013 at 4:55 PM

    Paula, I love your irons. They bring back such wonderful memories from when I was a little girl. My mother had a couple of them, which she used as doorstops, just as you show them in your post. They did not have any holes, as I recall, but had a solid plate. A dear sweet lady, who was like my second mother to me, lived just up the road from us and owned similar irons. Writing this ages me, but not everyone in our little country town had electricity at the time. She heated her irons in the fireplace or on top of the wood stove where she cooked some wonderful meals. Another "sweet" memory from time spent at her house is when she and her husband would make sugar cane syrup. To this day, I can close my eyes and picture their mule pulling that grinder around and around. I can smell the fire burning in the furnace under the big "bowl"and the bubbling juice from the cane, as it turned into that wonderful rich syrup from cane they grew. Just this morning, I was thinking of them and so reading your post today about the irons brought back yet another precious memory of this beautiful couple and the good times I spent with them.

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  37. SusieSeptember 26, 2013 at 6:35 PM

    Paula, You could build up some muscle using those irons. I remember ironing everything. I am so glad we do not have to do that anymore. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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  38. Heaven's WalkSeptember 26, 2013 at 7:16 PM

    Thank you both so much for including my post in your features today! You are the sweetest! And I also wanted to thank you for always sharing such interesting and educational photos and stories on your blog. I always come away learning something new! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  39. Audrey FrelxSeptember 26, 2013 at 7:17 PM

    OMG, how cool are those vintage irons!!! Toooo cool!!!

    Love your beautiful inspiration of the week pictures!

    Hugs, my friend!

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  40. Donna WilkesSeptember 26, 2013 at 7:17 PM

    Sorry I am running late. I love the collection of irons - I use mine as bookends. Thank you for hosting such a beautiful party!

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  41. Vickie @ Ranger 911September 26, 2013 at 7:36 PM

    Fun collection! The gasoline powered iron scares me. It would give "burning" something with an iron a whole new meaning!

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  42. Kathryn Ferguson GriffinSeptember 26, 2013 at 7:43 PM

    Cool irons! Thanks for hosting! Happy Fall. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  43. Savannah GrannySeptember 26, 2013 at 9:40 PM

    Your collection of antique irons is fabulous. I have Bob's grandmother's iron, iron. I hate to iron with a Rowenta, I would have been shunned back in the day.
    Thanks for hosting, Ginger

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  44. Lori LehmanSeptember 26, 2013 at 9:46 PM

    I love your posts, they are always so interesting, and I usually learn something! Thank you for hosting! Have a great day, Lori

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  45. EilisSeptember 26, 2013 at 10:49 PM

    Thanks for stopping by MyHeartLivesHere and the invitation to join you. New follower.

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  46. Maureen WyattSeptember 27, 2013 at 1:43 AM

    Every time I pick up one of those things I marvel that they bothered to iron at all!

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  47. Tea Cottage PrettiesSeptember 27, 2013 at 4:06 AM

    Love your irons and my fav would have to be the hot curling iron. I believe I even saw one on Downton Abby. Hugs, Beverly

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  48. Heather@Tatter and FraySeptember 27, 2013 at 10:46 AM

    Love the irons! I have an antique cast iron one from my grandmother that I've been using as a bookend. Thanks for hosting!!! xoxo

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  49. Pura VidaSeptember 27, 2013 at 11:52 AM

    ha! I just bought me a steamer and this post makes me appreciate it all the more! have a great weekend!

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  50. sparklegemSeptember 27, 2013 at 12:16 PM

    Wow! Those old irons are amazing. Very interesting history.

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  51. DoniSeptember 27, 2013 at 1:20 PM

    Hi girls!!! So excited to be back blogging and seeing your wonderful blog post. I love those antique irons! We just used to stick them on a shelf and forget them for ages until they began to have some charm, then out they come again. Doorstops, yes, decor?? Not usually, but now they are unique and really lovely. I wish I had more...especially like yours!!
    My favorite hot item? Hot sauce.
    Thanks so much for joining my party!!
    Blessings and hugs,
    Doni

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  52. GratefulPrayerThankfulHeartSeptember 27, 2013 at 9:45 PM

    Wow ~ I have enjoyed looking at those different irons and learning a bit about them!

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  53. Home Chic ClubSeptember 28, 2013 at 2:30 PM

    Love your vintage irons! Thanks for hosting
    xoxoxo
    Vesna

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  54. AnneSeptember 29, 2013 at 4:07 PM

    Another beautiful collection.Those are so heavy! Women must have had some hefty are muscles back then!
    xx
    Anne

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  55. Creations by Marie Antoinette and Edie MarieSeptember 29, 2013 at 5:27 PM

    LOL...A man would have to be the one ironing. They are so very heavy. Your collection is just fabulous. And using them as door stoppers are just to cool.
    I can't imagine using gas in some of them. The fumes would take your breath away it seems.
    Love this post.
    Thank you for all the work you do in showing all these works of art. I know I appreciate it very much. Thank you.
    XXOO Marie Antoinette

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  56. Christmas Pie CraftsSeptember 30, 2013 at 2:42 AM

    I bet they are so heavy! Great door stops though. Hope you have a good week.

    Jill, Christmas Pie Crafts

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  57. Sherry @ No Minimalist HereOctober 1, 2013 at 10:36 AM

    Paula, You have the most amazing collections. Thanks so much for hosting!
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  58. KathyOctober 2, 2013 at 9:16 AM

    Your vintage irons are fantastic - I've seen a few, they're amazing aren't they -I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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Thank you so much for your comments! We enjoy hearing from you.