"American Beauty" Iron
date: label: date made
content: 1947 - 1956
name: label: maker
content: American Electrical Heater Co.
notes: label: Description
content: Model 79AB, 1000W, 110-120V (AC only) clothes or laundry iron for domestic use. Chrome-plated, streamlined body has a forward-leaning, black Bakelite handle with red Lucite grip; handle front is set back from the pointed toe, while spurred back doubles as a heel rest. Thermostat control (fabric selector dial) and encased thermometer are below handle; both black with white markings. Brown, red, and yellow cloth-covered cord with 2-prong, bell-shape, brown plastic plug attached at back right of handle; black rubber tubing at attachment. No box.
label: Description
content: Thermometer and handle back both marked "American / Beauty." Identification plate on heel underside stamped: "AMERICAN BEAUTY / CA. NO. 79AB. VOLTS 110-120 WATTS1000 / A.C. ONLY / AMERICAN ELECTRICAL HEATER CO. / DETROIT, U.S.A. / PAT. NO’S. / DES.121163 / ” 121164 / RE.22048 / 1916671 / PAT. NO’S. / 2256147 / 2270316 / 2300230 / 2328152 / TO REMOVE / CONTROL LEVER OR TERM. BOX COVER / PRY OFF / 8412".
label: Description
content: U.S. Design Patents:
label: Description
content: - 121163, June 25, 1940, Frank Kuhn, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Laurence H. Thomas, assignors to American Electrical Heater Company, Detroit, Michigan, for “a laundry iron”
label: Description
content: - 121164, June 25, 1940, Frank Kuhn, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Laurence H. Thomas, assignors to American Electrical Heater Company, Detroit, Michigan, for “a handle for laundry iron or the like”
label: Description
content: - RE.22048, March 10, 1942, Frank Kuhn, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Laurence H. Thomas, assignors to American Electrical Heater Company, Detroit, Michigan, for “Electric iron”
label: Description
content: U.S. Mechanical Patents:
label: Description
content: - 1916671, July 4, 1933, Charles A. Hanser, Erwin A. Lockwood, assignors to American Electrical Heater Company, Detroit, Michigan, for “Thermostat”
label: Description
content: - 2256147, Sept. 16, 1941, Frank Kuhn, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Laurence H. Thomas, assignors to American Electrical Heater Company, Detroit, Michigan, for “Handle”
label: Description
content: - 2270316, Jan. 20, 1942, Frank Kuhn, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Laurence H. Thomas, assignors to American Electrical Heater Company, Detroit, Michigan, for "finish for working of laundry irons and the like" (sole plate)
label: Description
content: - 2300230, Oct. 27, 1942, Frank Kuhn and Laurence H. Thomas, assignors to American Electrical Heater Company, Detroit, Michigan, for “Thermometer unit for electric irons”
label: Description
content: - 2328152, Aug. 31, 1943, Frank Kuhn and Laurence H. Thomas, assignors to American Electrical Heater Company, Detroit, Michigan, for "Thermostatic unit and connections for electric irons"
label: Description
content: Date made per phone conversation with manufacturer (in 1988).
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Michigan, Detroit
topic: label: Subject
content: Household Tools and Equipment
label: Subject
content: Laundry
label: Subject
content: Patented
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1987.0673.1
label: accession number
content: 1987.0673
label: catalog number
content: 1987.0673.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: flatiron, electric
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: steel, chrome-plated (body material)
label: Physical Description
content: steel, stainless (sole material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (Bakelite) (handle; thermostat knob material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (Lucite) (handle center; thermometer cover material)
label: Physical Description
content: rubber (cord material)
label: Physical Description
content: cloth (cord material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 4 7/8 in x 4 5/8 in x 9 1/4 in; 12.3825 cm x 11.7475 cm x 23.495 cm