For sale is an antique ENTERPRISE No. 50 SAD IRON made by the Enterprise Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, PA. This heavy cast iron is rust free and is in great condition. This iron is missing the removable wood handle. Iron measures about 6 3/4 inches in length. This iron is the perfect size for a paper weight, book end or as display item for your kitchen.
The Enterprise Manufacturing Company was founded in 1864. The company made cast-iron equipment for chopping, grinding, slicing, and stuffing meats and other food. It also made sad irons for several years.
Sad irons, also called flat irons or smoothing irons, are shaped pieces of metal that are flat and polished on one side and have a handle attached to the other, created for the purpose of de-wrinkling fabric. “Sad” is an old English word for “solid,” and the term “sad iron” is often used to distinguish the largest and heaviest of flat irons, usually 5 to 9 pounds. The forebears to modern electric irons, flat irons are often triangular or come to a point to make it easier to iron
around buttons. The heft of a sad iron would help it hold heat, as well as to press the fabric flat. To protect fabric and surfaces from singeing, sad irons often came with metal trivets to rest on. Sad irons are often-beautiful, intricate, and collectible examples of metalwork.
around buttons. The heft of a sad iron would help it hold heat, as well as to press the fabric flat. To protect fabric and surfaces from singeing, sad irons often came with metal trivets to rest on. Sad irons are often-beautiful, intricate, and collectible examples of metalwork.
