How do I clean a rusty flat iron?

Start with fine wire wool and a light oil. Work gently in small circles over the rusted areas, wiping away the loose brown dust as you go. Heavy pitting on the sole plate rarely polishes out. You can seal the cleaned metal with a thin coat of microcrystalline wax to stop the rust returning.

I found a heavy iron box with a small chimney at a boot sale last weekend, but what did they burn inside it?

Those are charcoal irons. Laundresses placed glowing embers taken directly from the kitchen fire into the main body of the tool. The small chimney directed the exhaust smoke away from the operator's face. Meanwhile, the side vents drew in fresh air as the iron swung back and forth, keeping the coals burning hot. Sometimes you find a small metal grate resting inside. This kept the charcoal elevated, preventing ash from clumping at the bottom and ruining the air draught.

What is a tailor's goose?

A tailor's goose is an oversized flat iron used in the clothing trade. The curved handle resembles a goose's neck, which gave the tool its traditional name. They weigh significantly more than standard domestic irons. Tailors needed the massive weight to press sharp creases into heavy woollen cloths.

My grandmother had several heavy solid irons sitting by her hearth, and I was wondering why they were kept in sets of three?

Cast iron loses heat rapidly once pressed against damp laundry. Using a single flat iron meant stopping work to wait for it to reheat on the stove. A set of three kept the work flowing smoothly. One iron was in active use, a second sat heating on the stove, and the third was cooling down ready to join the back of the queue. Foundries sold them in matched sets for this reason. The system allowed domestic laundresses to work continuously through a large basket of damp linens.

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Gothic Irons

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Antique irons are heavy metal implements, heated either on a stove or by inserting hot coals, used to press wrinkles out of laundered clothing and household linens.