IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOOTHING IRONS
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,. on
the 7th July 1870.-A communication from abroad by Théophile.
Klaus, Johannes Reuger, and Georges Rüger, residing at 13, Boulevart.
St. Martin, Paris.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of.
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SMOOTHING IRONS," to be as
follows:-
The smoothing irons employed by tailors, hatters, laundresses, and
others, are ordinarily formed of a metal block having a polished face,.
and provided with a handle by which the iron is traversed to and fro,
when heated on the article to be smoothed. These irons are commonly
heated by placing them in a heating stove or in contact with incan-
descent fuel, and in both cases the smoothing surface is liable to
become soiled and requires before use to be carefully cleaned.. Some

page_text: smoothing irons are also made hollow and heated by the introduction
therein of a metal block previously heated to redness. In each case
the irons become gradually cool after being heated, causing a variation
of heat, which is prejudicial to the ironing operation; much loss of
time is also incurred in reheating and cooling the irons for use, and a
considerable expenditure of fuel required.
The improved construction of smoothing iron forming the subject of
the present Invention is designed to ensure a uniform heat in the iron
throughout the operation, which heat may further be increased or
reduced as desired without the aid of any other source of heat than
that contained in the smoothing iron itself.
The improvements consist in providing a smoothing iron with a
furnace in its interior comprising, 1st, an aperture for the admission of
air for combustion; 2ndly, a grating or fire-bars for supporting the
fuel; and 3rdly, an escape for the products of combustion. With such
an arrangement of parts I am enabled to heat the iron to a suitable
degree, which is regulated by the amount of air introduced below the
fire-bars, for increasing or retarding the combustion.
I employ by preference such fuels, whether natural or artificial, as
produce but little smoke, charcoal for example:
The improvements are illustrated in the accompanying Drawing as
applied to a tailor's smoothing iron.
Figure 1 shows a side view of the “iron” complete; Figure 2, a
plan; Figure 3, a longitudinal section; Figure 4, an end view; and
Figure 5, a transverse section of the same. The same letters of
reference apply to all the Figures.
A, body of the "iron," the smoothing surface being at a. The iron
is made hollow or of "box" form, and contains a grating C resting on
ledges in box A, and in rear of which is provided an orifice D for
admitting air for combustion, the supply being regulated by a valve d,
B, cap or cover hinged to box A at b, the two parts being held tightly
together by a key E. The cap B also carries the pipe G for the escape
of the products of combustion, forming in this case the hind support
of the handle H, but the pipe G may be otherwise disposed or the gases
may pass out at any suitable orifice. The fuel is first lighted and

page_text: placed on the grating C and the cover B then closed and secured by
key E. Combustion is maintained by the air entering at orifice D, which
is regulated in amount as desired, the fuel being renewed when entirely
consumed.