Removable Handle

Little Irons

This category of irons must have been the most expensive to produce, and given how few are found today it's apparent that relatively few were ever manufactured.  The idea was a good one---solve the problem of the handle of the iron getting too hot to handle when it was heated along with the base by devising clever ways to latch and unlatch it without ever having to touch the hot base.  Little fingers undoubtedly got burned, so manufacturers of antique children's irons came up with their own designs for these smaller irons.

To justify what must have been the higher cost and to promote sales the advertisers pointed out that these irons were the perfect choice for adults to use to iron delicate fabrics and to use for touch-ups instead of going through the trouble of pulling out the regular full-size family iron.  And they touted the added benefit of being able to have several bases heating and ready on the stove, all of which could be used with one single handle.

These child-size irons listed below are the type that are becoming increasingly more rare.  The collections we have on consignment were begun years ago, when it was easy to find such things.  How times have changed!

 

 

 

"Baby" Removable Handle Sadiron    Politizer's book refers to this little antique iron as the "Baby", which she apparently saw it called in an old hardware store catalog.  The whole "apron top" or lid removes by means of an unusual latch, so you could heat the base without heating the handle.  But what is really unusual about this iron is that the apron is cast metal rather than sheet steel.      (TC278)      Click for Pic      GS-RH-2 

Very Good.................$75.00    SOLD!

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A Slightly Larger Myers 2 Piece Antique Iron    This iron is slightly larger and wider than the Myers iron that is typically found, measuring just under 4.5 inches long.  This is the nickel plated version, and there's still lots of it left.  The latching mechanism on these irons is really top notch!  (TC288)      Click for Pic     Click for Pic     GS-RH-4  

Excellent.................$175.00

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Detachable Handle Dover Sleeve Iron with Rainbow Grip    This little sleeve iron has a removable hood with a half-circle or rainbow shaped wooden handle, a rounded back, and a nicely pointed toe.  It measures just under 4.5 inches long.  (TC324[b])      Click for Pic     Click for Pic     GS-RH-5 

Excellent.................$95.00

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Detachable Handle Dover Sleeve Iron   This little sleeve iron has a removable hood with a half-circle or rainbow shaped wooden handle that has been remade or replaced but is nicely done.  It measures just under 4.5 inches long and is unmarked as to maker but collectors know it as a Dover.  There is some corrosion on the nickel top, but the body is nice and it could be cleaned up some to display nicely.       Click for Pic     Click for Pic     ML-DSLV-1 

Excellent.................$35.00

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2 Piece Child's Iron with Sliding Latch    This 3.5 inch iron resembles the Dover-style removable handle irons but with an unusual latching mechanism that operates with a slide.  This style iron was never as popular as the Dovers in their day, and that explains why relatively few of these are found today.  This example does have an apology---the end portion of the slide piece has broken off (the end that you would push from) but the remaining portion still slides and works to hold the top to the bottom securely.  With that in mind this iron is priced appropriately!  (ETM285)      Click for Pic     Click for Pic     GS-RH-6 

Good as noted.................$45.00

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Banwell's Patent Detachable Handle Iron    At first glance this 5" iron looks like a typical Mrs. Potts style girl's size detachable handle iron, but take a closer look.  This guy's better idea for keeping that handle securely in place was to use two lugs at opposing angles.  The handle is marked "Pat Apl 1895.  There is a tight hairline crack in the wooden grip.      Click for Pic     LCM-CRH-1 

Good.................$35.00

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2 Mrs. Potts Style Removable Handle Irons

On the left is a really nice looking miniature size Mrs. Potts style removable handle iron with two bases included.  This was the upgraded the all-nickel plated version---even the latch knob is nickel plated---with original green painted wooden handle.  A classic that deserves a place in every iron collection!  A little cleaning and this iron will shine, and how often do you see them with original paint still on the handle.     BCM-186    

Very Good.................$55.00

On the right is an unusual variation referred to as “The Baby”.  The removable “apron” covering the base is cast iron, not steel, which I’ve seen in old catalogs was a pay-a-little-extra-for upgrade.  There is a small chip in the apron cover at one of the points.  It would benefit greatly from a good cleaning.         BCM-187

Fair.................$25.00

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2 Dover Detachable Handle "Lace" and "Sleeve" Irons   The iron on the left is marked "Dover Sleeve Iron" and the one on the right says "Dover Lace Iron", indicating that these little irons were marketed not just as child's or toy irons but also for adults to use for those little touch up jobs.      Click for Pic     BCM-220      BCM-185 

Good.................$25.00 each     SOLD!

 

 

 

 

2 Small Dover Removable Handle Irons    Here are two little detachable handle Dover irons with two different style latches.  The swinging lever style one carries a patent date and is marked “Asbestos Sad Iron” while the button style one simply says “Dover Sadiron”.  Dover marketed a number of their irons, both large and small, under the trade name “Asbestos”---in those days it was a good thing.   Not only were these little irons sold to be used by children, they were also marketed as "tourist" or "travel" irons that could be taken along on holiday by adults to fit conveniently in their suitcase.  I don't know about you, but ironing is the last thing I want to think about doing when I'm on vacation!      Click for Pic           

Left..........Good+.................$35.00      BCM-199

Right...........Good..............$25.00      BCM-183

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2 More Dover "Asbestos" Little Irons  Here are two more little Dovers with the swinging lever latches.     Click for Pic  

Left............Fair............$20.00     BCM-258

Right............Fair............$20.00     BCM-257

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2 Little Sensible No. 6 Little Irons and an Ober   These three removable handle little irons are really nicely designed and constructed.  And I can imagine the lucky child who got to use them thought herself very grown up!  You can hardly consider them to be “toys” as they really were just like Mom’s!  All three are in very good condition.  Note the two variations of the bases of the Sensibles.  The Ober in the middle is their “end mount” model, which is somewhat harder to find in this little size than their “center-mount” one.     Click for Pic  

Left............Good +............$75.00     BCM-49

Middle............Good +............$150.00     BCM-56     SOLD!

Right............Good +............$75.00     BCM-48

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2 Mrs. Potts Style Removable Handle Little Irons  From what I have read Mrs. Potts was not rich and famous when she died, although she deserved to be.  From the number that are found today her irons large and small were obviously a phenomenal success, but she apparently didn’t have the business acumen it must have taken to keep her ideas and designs from being ripped off by the more financially shrewd of the day.  In any case these two little examples are classic Mrs. Potts and deserve a place in every collection of antique irons.    

Left............Good............$30.00     BCM-139

Right............Good............$25.00     BCM-138

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2 More Mrs. Potts Style Removable Handle Little Irons   These two are in really nice condition with the handle stretcher bars still retaining their original gold paint.       Click for Pic

 

 

Left............Very Good............$25.00     BCM-254

Right............Very Good............$25.00     BCM-269

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2 Small Removable Handle Irons   The one on the left is marked Sterno.  Perhaps that is what you were to heat it with.  Or it might have been an advertising piece.  It measures about 4 3/4" long.  On the right is a small Mrs Potts style iron of about the same length.  It is nice, and they are cute this size.          Click for Pic          

Left ..... Very Good........$25.00     ML-CDH-1

Right ...... Very Good........$25.00     ML-CDH-2

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Small "Girls" Sensible No. 45 Iron   This is a smaller size removable handle "Sensible" iron patented by Nelson Streeter.  It is about 5 1/2" in length.     Click for Pic       

ML-CDH-3  

Good........$25.00

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