Otis Singleton
The electric iron was invented in the late 1880s by Henry W. Seely, a New York-based inventor. However, the electric iron wasn't the first type of iron to be invented. For centuries, people had been using various methods to smooth out wrinkles from their clothing. The ancient Greeks and Romans, for example, used heated rods or metal paddles, while the ancient Chinese used metal pans filled with hot water or coal. Despite Seely's invention, electric irons didn't become popular until the early 20th century when irons with electric cords were introduced, doing away with the need for constant reheating.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Invention | 1882 |
| Inventor | Henry W. Seely |
| Place of Invention | New York |
| Weight | 15 pounds |
| Safety | Unsafe |
| Heating Mechanism | Arc of electricity between two carbon rods |
| Commercial Success | No |
| Subsequent Developments | Electric irons with cords introduced in the early 20th century; Steam irons introduced in the mid-1920s; Steam irons became commercially successful in the 1940s |
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What You'll Learn
The first electric iron was invented in 1882
The electric iron was a significant improvement on previous methods of ironing, which involved heating irons directly over a fire or filling them with hot coals or charcoal. The ancient Chinese, for example, used metal pans filled with hot coals or sand to smooth wrinkles from clothing. By the 1300s, a flatiron—a smooth piece of metal affixed to a handle—was in use in Europe.
By the mid-19th century, the search for a self-heating iron was underway. In 1852, a patent was issued in the US for a charcoal-burning iron, and by 1860, gas irons were available in several countries. However, these irons still required a constant source of heat and needed to be reheated repeatedly.
Seely's electric iron was the first workable solution to this problem, and it quickly gained popularity. By the 1920s, most households with electricity had an electric iron, and improvements were being made to the design, such as the addition of thermostats to control the heat.
The electric iron has continued to evolve, with the introduction of steam irons in the 1920s and 1930s, and various improvements to the soleplate to prevent rust and scratches. Today, irons are facing competition from fashion trends that favour wrinkle-free fabrics, but they remain a common appliance in many households.
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Henry W. Seely was the inventor
The electric iron was invented and patented by Henry W. Seely from New York in 1882. The resistively heated iron was a breakthrough in smoothing-iron technology, solving the centuries-old problem of having to constantly reheat the iron. Seely's invention was one of the first popular electric appliances in the United States, saving time and effort for households with access to electricity.
Seely developed his design in 1881 and patented it the following year. The iron was heated by an arc of electricity between two carbon rods. It weighed 15 pounds and was considered unsafe. The design resembled a typical flatiron, with two prongs at the base for the electric hookup.
Seely was not the only inventor to consider powering an iron with electricity. However, he was the first to make the idea workable and patent it. In 1883, Seely and his partner Dyer patented a different "electric flat iron". They had doubts about the practicality of having the iron continuously plugged into an electric circuit, so they invented a "cordless" iron that sat on a stand heated by electricity.
Despite Seely's invention, it was the Richardson Hotpoint iron that was successfully manufactured and marketed. Electric irons with cords were introduced in the early 20th century, and by the 1920s, many irons were equipped with thermostats to control the heat level. In the mid-1920s, the Eldec Company unveiled the steam iron, which further revolutionised the process of ironing.
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Irons have been used since ancient times
During the 17th century, a new method emerged. Large slabs of iron with a handle were heated on a fire and used to smooth out wrinkles from fabric. This device was called a sad iron or flat iron. Every time someone wanted to iron, they would have to wait for the iron slab to heat up and then cool down again. This was a time-consuming process.
By the 1300s, a device that more closely resembled the modern iron appeared in Europe. This was a flatiron, a smooth piece of metal affixed to a handle. The search for a self-heating flat iron was underway by the mid-19th century. In 1852, a patent was issued in the US for a new, improved charcoal-burning iron. By 1860, there were gas irons available in several countries, with rubber tubing to connect them to gas light fittings or canisters.
In the 1880s, Henry W. Seely of New York invented and patented the first electric flat iron. Early electric irons looked similar to typical flatirons but had two prongs at the base for the electric hookup. They were relatively inexpensive and saved time and effort, quickly becoming popular. However, they were also very unsafe. Irons with electric cords were a significant breakthrough, doing away with the centuries-old necessity of constantly reheating the iron.
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Electric irons were one of the first popular appliances in the US
The history of ironing dates back to ancient civilisations, with the use of hot, flat surfaces to smooth out fabrics being a common practice. However, the electric iron is a more modern invention, with its roots tracing back to the 1880s. Henry W. Seely, a New York resident, is credited with inventing and patenting the first electric flat iron during this time. Despite this breakthrough, Seely's invention did not gain commercial success. It faced doubts due to the constant need for an electric connection, and other heating methods like charcoal-filled irons and gas irons were already available and in use.
It wasn't until the early 20th century that irons with electric cords became popular, solving the long-standing issue of constant reheating. This development, along with improvements to the sole plate, marked a significant step forward in ironing technology. By the 1920s, many irons were equipped with thermostats to control heat levels, making them safer and more convenient for households. Electric irons were relatively inexpensive and offered a constant heat source, saving time and effort. As a result, they became one of the first popular appliances in the United States during this decade.
The introduction of the steam iron in the mid-1920s by the Eldec Company further propelled the popularity of electric irons. Steam irons funnelled water vapour to small holes in the sole plate, eliminating the need to sprinkle water on fabrics. In 1938, improvements were made to prevent rust on steam iron bases, and the Steam-O-Matic became the first steam iron listed by Underwriters Laboratories. By the 1940s, steam irons were widely commercialised and accepted in the market.
The electric iron continued to evolve, with the introduction of multiple fabric settings in the 1950s to cater to fashion trends and new fabric types. Electric irons were one of the first appliances to gain widespread adoption in American homes, thanks to their affordability, convenience, and ability to transform a tedious chore into a more manageable task. However, with technological advancements and fashion trends favouring wrinkle-free fabrics, the future of irons and ironing may be evolving once more.
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Steam irons were introduced in the 1920s
The electric iron was invented in the 1880s by Henry W. Seely, a New York resident. However, it wasn't until the 1920s that steam irons were introduced. These irons used a thermostat to regulate and control the temperature, a significant improvement on previous models.
The first steam iron was unveiled in the mid-1920s by the Eldec Company. This new iron facilitated the pressing of dry material, as it funnelled water vapour from a receptacle to small holes on the soleplate, removing the need to sprinkle water on the fabric.
The electronic steam iron was first used by a New York cleaning company in 1926, but it wasn't until 1938 that the steam iron became commercially successful. The Steam-O-Matic, sold for $10, paved the way for other electric steam irons to enter the market in the mid-1900s.
Improvements to the steam iron continued in the following decades, with the development of an aluminium soleplate that wouldn't rust, and irons capable of both wet and dry operation introduced in the 1950s.
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Frequently asked questions
The first electric iron was invented in the 1880s by Henry W. Seely from New York.
Yes, he patented the electric flat iron in 1882.
The early electric irons looked similar to the flatirons with two prongs at the base for the electric hookup.
In the 1920s, most households with electricity had an electric iron.
