More Irons
Several solutions addressed the problem of keeping the iron hot. Fuel irons appeared late in the 19th century and were used in the U.S. through World War II. The canister contained a liquid fuel such as kerosene or gasoline to heat the base of the iron. Another option was to use a liquid white gas in a tank mounted on the iron to provide constant heat. Some have said that using one of these irons would be akin to “ironing with a Molotov cocktail.” An example is shown below, catalog number 79.02.2.
The Monitor iron used white gas injected under pressure to a flame in the case. It was patented in 1903 by the Monitor Sadiron Company. Monitor irons were used into the 1950s. (Catalog number 79.02.1 appears below.)
