The “Mystery” Object in the Photo: A Charcoal Box Iron

Before electric irons, many homes and professional launderers used charcoal box irons (also called coal irons). The body is cast iron shaped like a small metal box with a hinged lid. Heat came not from a cord but from glowing charcoal placed inside the cavity.

Key features you can spot in the photo

Wooden handle: wood doesn’t conduct heat, so it stayed safe to grip

Hinged lid and latch: often shaped like a rooster or bird, it let you open the lid to refill coals

Air vents: slots and scalloped edges allowed airflow so charcoal kept burning

Heavy soleplate: the thick iron base spread and held heat evenly

How it was used
A small brazier or stove lit the charcoal. The hot coals were transferred into the iron’s box, then the lid latched. The user tested the heat on a scrap of cloth before ironing. As it cooled, the vents were fanned or fresh coals added to keep the temperature steady. This design solved a big problem with earlier “sad irons,” which had to be reheated constantly on the stove.

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