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So many people have never thought what they used to iron before electricity became popular and accessible. There used to be coal irons. You open them, put some

So many people have never thought what they used to iron before electricity became popular and accessible. There used to be coal irons. You open them, put some pieces of charcoal on them and use them.

kzrdude 5y ago
From my grandmother's generation I've also seen hunk-of-metal-irons.. (look like modern irons, just more massive, without the steam holes) you just put them on top of the stove (wood or electricity-fired) to heat them
hardwaregeek 5y ago
There's a really great section in The Path to Power about how women in the Hill Country used to iron before electricity. They'd heat these massive irons (that they called sad irons) in the stove. The process was extremely finicky between the ash, the inevitable burns, and the unforgiving heat of the fire. Really goes to show how much washing machines and electric irons have done for quality of life.