Mrs. Potts Pattern Sadirons

[watercolor]

Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

Last week while I was visiting my brother, he asked me if I'd help him sort through some things
that he had stored in his attic. One item in particular that peaked my interest, was a brand-new,
still in the box, set of "Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons" that were distributed by Sears Roebuck.

These irons once belonged to my grandmother's cousin who had a 1.5-acre homestead
in rural Iowa. He had lived there all his life until he passed away in the 1960's. I remember my father
once telling me that the only time he ever left Iowa was when he was sent overseas during WWI.





Thanks for looking,
watercolor

 

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[creskol]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

WoW .. how neat is that? Still in the original box! Thanks!

 

[NGE]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

Are those the type that you can remove the top and put hot coal in, to keep the iron hot longer? If so, I have a couple that I dug, and that was what was told to me. Mine are hollow under the removable lid......NGE

 

[Mackaydon]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

Mary Florence Potts of Ottumwa, Iowa patented her sad iron with a detachable handle in 1871. The sad iron had a detachable and insulated handle that was always cool for ironing. The handle was detachable and so several irons could be on the stove at one time and the handle moved to another hot iron as the one being used cooled off. This was a move for efficiency in the laborious task of ironing in the mid-1800's.This iron has a wooden semi-circular handle and a wooden knob on the release mechanism of the handle. The base of the sad iron is 6 inches in length.
http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cach...n+Sad+Irons&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&ie=UTF-8

 

[seger98]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

That's a neat find!

 

[watercolor]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

Mary Florence Potts of Ottumwa, Iowa patented her sad iron with a detachable handle in 1871. The sad iron had a detachable and insulated handle that was always cool for ironing. The handle was detachable and so several irons could be on the stove at one time and the handle moved to another hot iron as the one being used cooled off. This was a move for efficiency in the laborious task of ironing in the mid-1800's.This iron has a wooden semi-circular handle and a wooden knob on the release mechanism of the handle. The base of the sad iron is 6 inches in length.
http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cach...n+Sad+Irons&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us&ie=UTF-8

Mackaydon, thanks for the info!

What sort of has me stumped on this particular sadiron set is that her name doesn't appear on the iron itself as part of the casting
like it does on some of the other versions I've seen. . . her name is only on the box label with the word "pattern" after it. . . I wonder
if Sears had this similar style iron produced to avoid certain financial obligations to Mrs. Potts

That's a neat find!

Thanks!

Are those the type that you can remove the top and put hot coal in, to keep the iron hot longer? If so, I have a couple that I dug, and that was what was told to me. Mine are hollow under the removable lid......NGE

NGE, no place to put hot coal. . . these irons are just placed on the hot plate of the stove for heating.
Those a bear to carry around when you find them. . . especially at the beginning of a hunt

 

[Mackaydon]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

Here's the item listed in an 1897 Sears catalogue:
http://books.google.com/books?id=pa...&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result

 

[kimsdad]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

NGE, no place to put hot coal. . . these irons are just placed on the hot plate of the stove for heating.
Those a bear to carry around when you find them. . . especially at the beginning of a hunt

I'd be mighty sad if I had to use those irons, too...

I hope you hang on to those, Mark. I figure that the way you come across cast iron stove parts, one day you'll have carried a complete stove home and the irons will come in handy.
Neil

 

[sasnz]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

Wow fantastic find,

Most surprised to see none or very little surface rust. make sure you dont stik your paw prints all over them. It is amazing what some people have stored in their attic.

Sasnz

 

[Bavaria Mike]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

Nice attic find! You are probably right about Sears not putting her name on it to avoid any finacial responsibility to her, typical big business, steal an idea and screw the little guy, LOL. HH, Mike

 

[crazyjarhead]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

Nice discovery and nice antiques. And there still in the box. Prize possesions!

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

Very cool find! What else was in that attic! LOL

 

[kdismuke1]

Re: Mrs. Potts' Pattern Sadirons

NICE FIND.