Name/Title
1920s Sunbeam Electric Iron with Travel CaseEntry/Object ID
2025.40.1Description
A electric iron made in the 1920s by the Sunbeam company. The blue painted iron travel case opens with the push of the button at the front hosts the small iron as well as its stand and cloth wrapped wire. The handle of the box is rusted in the upright position but would normally be allowed to fall forward or back to further aid the compact nature of the kit. The paint is chipped and scratched and the metal is rusted in places but the hinges and locking mechanism work well. The iron itself is silver with a wooden handle and is marked with the Sunbeam brand and slogan ("The Iron of Irons") under the handle as well as at the back where the plug for the electric cable comes out. The stand for the iron has three round feet that keep it away from the surface it's standing on, and features a series of ridges to keep the iron from lying completely flat on the stand. The electric cord is wrapped in beige and brown striped woven fabric, and the plug that attaches to the iron features an on/off switch as well as a handled spring to aid in safely pulling the plug from the iron. This kit also includes a homemade indented cardboard separator that sits between the stand and the iron while kept in the box, presumably to keep the stand from scratching the iron in transport. The Sunbeam company continues to produce irons today.Collection
General CollectionMade/Created
Manufacturer
Sunbeam, Chicago Flexible Shaft CompanyDate made
circa 1920Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
City
Chicago, ILRegion
NortheastContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Iron, ElectricNomenclature Primary Object Term
IronNomenclature Sub-Class
Laundry EquipmentNomenclature Class
Maintenance T&ENomenclature Category
Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & TechnologyLocation
Location
* Untyped Location
Archives U1-B-1Category
PermanentDate
June 8, 2025Provenance
Provenance Detail
Found ObjectCreated By
Kearney, QuinlanCreate Date
June 8, 2025Updated By
Kearney, QuinlanUpdate Date
June 8, 2025
