Antique & Collectible
Child Size / Toy & Small Irons

History / Background

Way back when in early America Monday was designated as Washing and Laundry Day, and Tuesday was considered the designated Ironing Day.  Young girls helped with the washing, ironing and household chores back then, and they were expected to learn to iron at an early age.

Many of these small pressing irons have unusual patented features and other design attributes that help make them a special and fun category of antiques to collect.   They give a vivid reminder of what was expected of America's children during this period, and they make for a great display of antiques because of their dainty size and graphic appearance.

Many small antique irons were specifically made as "toys" to help children learn by playing at this important task with mom.  Other little pressing irons or sadirons were made for laces and fancy work which their delicate little hands and hearts could handle while helping Mom with the day's chores.  These irons hold a special place in America's heritage and history, and are an important piece of Americas past, giving us a glimpse into what these earlier days were like.

At first glance these children's irons might be mistaken for their typical full-size counterparts, but their diminutive size and delicacy puts these antique child-size clothing irons in a special class of their own.

What could make a youngster of yesteryear feel more grown up or more important than being allowed to iron her doll clothes, her hair ribbons, or even the family clothing with her very own "real" iron, side by side with her Mom!  And how better to learn the fine points of someday providing her own future family with a wrinkle-free wardrobe than by being taught the lesson in the guise of childhood play.

Iron manufacturers of the day of course saw the marketing potential here with this younger audience, and like today's entrepreneurs they produced an incredible array of different choices for the child, and her Mom, to chose from.  Each manufacturer wanted their iron to be distinctive and appealing.  Take a look at the different handle styles.  Look at the differences in the ways the bases are designed.  Note the way the manufacturers decorated them and marked them in interesting ways with names and numbers that were sure to attract attention then, and still do with antique iron collectors and antique toy / doll / and bear collectors today.

Rare & Special Little Irons

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Crossrib Handle Spade Irons

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Children's / Toy "Primitive" Spade Irons

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Little Spade Irons with Numbers and Letters

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Tri Bump, Curl & Rounded Handle Spade Irons

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Cast Block Handle Spade Irons

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Wood Grip Spade Shaped Children's Irons

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Child Size French Spade Shape Irons

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Detachable Handle Little Pressing Irons

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Small Dover Type Irons

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Charcoal and Slug Heated Box Irons

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Oval Cap Irons

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Teardrop Cap Irons

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Half-Round Handle Double Point Irons

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Rope / Diamond / Cylinder Grip DP Irons

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Child Size Sleeve Irons

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Child-Size Swan Irons

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Collector Club Commemorative Irons

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Child-Size Trivets

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If you have a single antique, or a collection of antiques to sell please contact us at LCM@patented-antiques.com giving us your PHONE NUMBER  and other contact info and we will get back to you ASAP. 

To view examples of the types of antiques and collectibles we have previously sold and are always interested in helping you sell please visit our Past Sales Archive Pages at our sister website www.AntiqBuyer.com.

Please see our FAQ page, the Appraisal / Selling Page and the Selling Your Collection Pages for further info.

Thanks!!

Larry & Carole