W.d. Cummings charcoal-burning sad iron

This week’s artifact of interest at the Josiah Day House is our charcoal-burning ‘sad iron’ manufactured around 1882. This piece, made from cast iron and wood, is engraved with the maker’s mark “W. D. Cummings, N. Taliaferro, & E. Bless, Patented 1882.” The name ‘sad iron’ is a derivative of the Old English word for ‘solid.’ Weighing just over 7 pounds, this artifact is true to its name! The mass of this late-19th century piece enabled it to maintain high temperatures for long periods and assisted in further pressing the clothes. The distinctive shape of this charcoal-burning iron is due to its chimney. The upwards channel was invented to divert the thick, smelly, smoke away from the delicate fabrics beneath. 

Additionally, the back of this iron is adorned with a detailed portrait of a bearded man; online sources have varying identifications of this man - ranging from Jesus to Vulcan, the Roman god of fire. This face is actually on a hinge and is able to be moved to the side; the opening this created served as the way for coals to be inserted and removed.

While this iron design was patented in the 1880s, paintings from 12th century China depict women using a charcoal-filled pan to press clothing! Such pieces are the earliest documented evidence of using what we now know as a sad iron. In Europe, ironing with forged metal began during the late Middle Ages.

Charcoal-burning sad irons rose in popularity in the United States during the late 1800s and early 1900s. This new design spread quickly due to the issues associated with traditional sad irons, which were heated by being placed near a fire or stove. These irons did not maintain high temperatures for very long, so users had to reheat them several times to finish ironing their clothing. Charcoal-burning sad irons were eventually phased out in favor of the electric steam iron, which first began appearing in American homes in the 1920s.

This artifact was used this week as part of a program in collaboration with a local school! During their field trip, students learned about artifacts’ histories and uses, had a Q&A session, and had a chance to examine them. The Ramapogue Historical Society greatly values engaging with members of our community and showcasing what local history has to offer! Events such as school programs and our upcoming Strawberry Social enable us to organize and contribute to community events and educational programs.

Information was gathered from the following sources:
http://www.oldandinteresting.com/antique-irons-smoothers-mangles.aspx
https://www.ebay.com/itm/362844090443
https://www.etsy.com/listing/731614004/antique-sad-iron-cast-iron-wd-cummings-n
https://chidorivintage.com/products/antique-c1900-japanese-sad-iron-jk418

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