"Steam-O-Matic" Iron
date: label: date made
content: ca 1947
notes: label: Description
content: Electric iron. Heavy molded metal body (A), planished surface texture, temperature setting on top, metal panel printed with settings: “Selectrol/ON/LOW/RAYON/SILK/WOOL/COTTON/LINEN/HIGH/OFF”, molded plastic knob, black, debossed in white: “FAST/MEDIUM/SLOW”. Molded plastic handle, black, at top. Detachable electric cord (D) attaches at back, plastic plug, black, molded, with “ON/OFF” switch and “PEER/U.S.A.” logo and “5A.-250V./UND.LAB.INSP./10A-125V.” embossed on side, fabric-covered cord, two-prong plug, embossed with “CORNISH” logo. Winged metal knob (B) on body closes hole to add water for steam, poured through molded plastic funnel, black, (C), embossed with “STEAM-O-MATIC/WAVERLY TOOL CO”. Accompanying instruction manual (E), which notes that the original price for the iron was $18.95.
label: Description
content: Attached metal tag on back of iron, red background, silver lettering: “STEAM-O-MATIC/U.S. PATENTS:2,178,512-2,279,179-2,338,739-OTHER PATS. PENDING/WATTS 1000 A.C. CURRENT ONLY VOLTS 120/SERIAL NO. 628947 MODEL B-300/MFD. BY WAVERLY PRODUCTS INC./SANDUSKY, OHIO BRIDGEPORT, CONN.”
label: Description
content: Patents:
label: Description
content: 2,178,512, October 31, 1939, Edward P. Schreyer, for “Electric iron and dampener”
label: Description
content: 2,279,179, April 7, 1942, Edward P. Schreyer, for “Electric iron and dampener”
label: Description
content: 2,338,739, Jan 11, 1944, Edward P. Schreyer, for “Steam iron”
label: Description
content: Introduced in 1939 and marketed by the Steam-O-Matic Corporation, this iron is the first steam iron listed by Underwriters Laboratories. The streamlined body mimics that of a ship, demonstrating how influential modern architecture and transportation was on all aspects of design, including household appliances.
label: Description
content: Maker is Waverly Products, Inc., originally founded as Rival Manufacturing Company in 1932, manufacturing small appliances in the U.S. under various names (Bionaire, Crock-Pot, Patton, Rival, to name a few). They became a subsidiary of Holmes Products Corporation in 1999, and are now a brand of Sunbeam products (a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation, which purchased Holmes Products Corp. in 2005).
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: Ohio, Sandusky
label: place made
content: United States: Connecticut, Bridgeport
topic: label: Subject
content: Household Tools and Equipment
label: Subject
content: Laundry
label: Subject
content: Patented
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
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Anonymous Gift
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1988.0113.1
label: accession number
content: 1988.0113
label: catalog number
content: 1988.0113.1
objectType: label: Object Name
content: flatiron, electric
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: aluminum (body; soleplate material)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (handle material)
label: Physical Description
content: paint (handle material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (Bakelite) (thermostat knob; cord connector; plug material)
label: Physical Description
content: cloth (cord material)
label: Measurements
content: overall, body: 6 1/4 in x 10 3/4 in x 4 3/4 in; 15.875 cm x 27.305 cm x 12.065 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall, cord, coiled: 1 7/8 in x 8 in x 3 3/4 in; 4.7625 cm x 20.32 cm x 9.525 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall, funnel: 1 3/4 in x 1 5/8 in; 4.445 cm x 4.1275 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall, booklet: 2 5/8 in x 3 3/4 in; 6.6675 cm x 9.525 cm