The first prototype of a modern iron appeared on Russian soil in the 17th century. Under its weight and the heat from the sole plate, the fibers of the fabric stretched, and the surface of the clothes became not just soft and fluffy, as when using a roller and a rubel, but also smooth and even.
In the mid-18th century, the Demidov factories began to produce coal irons on an industrial scale. In terms of design, a charcoal iron was similar to a small stove: it had a box-like hollow cast-iron body filled with smoldering hot (usually birch) coals, which heated the sole plate. The body was closed with a hinged lid.
Small ventilation holes were made on the sides of the “box”: when the heat became insufficient, the iron was aerated, by waving it from side to side. At the same time, pieces of coal could fall out of the holes, stain and even burn clean linen.
Over time, the design was improved by adding a grate and a pipe. The grate was placed inside the body under the coals: in this way they were spread in a more even layer and heated the sole plate more evenly. The pipe improved traction and diverted the smoke away, protecting the woman’s hands from steam burns.
In the 19th century, a model appeared in Germany that ran on alcohol. The liquid was poured into a fuel tank attached to the body, from where it was distributed into the device via pipes. The liquid was ignited, and the flame heated the base plate. At the end of the century, it was replaced by irons with a gas cylinder (gas was supplied to the burner through a pump) and later — electric irons. Despite their numerous advantages, all of them were not perfect: they required a lot of “fuel”, could explode or electrocute the owner if handled carelessly. Therefore, charcoal irons remained in demand for a long time.
Many craftswomen often said: “the tailor (sewing machine) will spoil and the iron will smooth it out (fix it)”, that is, it will soften the fabric and make the flaws made during cutting and sewing less noticeable. By steaming, skilled craftswomen could make the item look better and neater and hide some imperfections, like uneven seams. This saying is especially relevant in relation to clothing made of natural fabrics — cotton, linen and wool.
