Pressing Iron

This is a tool used to smooth out creases on clothes. Charcoal was generally placed inside the pressing iron as a heat source. It is made of cast iron formed in the shape of a bowl, with a smooth bottom and a long, wooden handle. The charcoal container is mostly circular, and has a large rim to prevent the charcoal from falling out, and a socket at one side to fit the handle. Creased fabric would be pulled taut by two people and flattened out with the iron. The fabric should not be rubbed multiple times. The best way to smooth out the creases with this type of iron is to rub only once or twice with a hot iron to evaporate the moisture in the cloth quickly. Stone and brass were sometimes also used to produce pressing irons. Some irons resemble an electric iron, while using charcoal for heat, and some irons are placed on charcoal or briquette fire to be heated up before flattening clothes.