Antique ENTERPRISE Co Sad Iron w/ Wood Handle & GRISWOLD Cast Iron Tray - Dated 1870 - Heavy Doorstop Shabby Cottage Chic Home Decor

This is a unique antique cast iron Sad iron made by the Enterprise Iron Company if Philadelphia, PA and dated May 1870.

Before the advent of the electric iron, ironing meant having to heat and re-heat a set of irons over a fire. An improvement to the sad iron was made in 1870 when a woman named Mary Florence Potts invented an iron with points at both ends like this iron so you could iron in either direction. It had a removable wooden handle. They were sold in sets so the user could rotate them by using the on/off latch on the handles to change them out.

(The iron is that type with a that has a hook or latch on the top that that locks the handle into the main iron.)

The iron was black but has since gotten some rust and wear commensurate with an item that is more than 140 years old.

This antique sad iron would be a perfect doorstop or country farmhouse or shabby chic decor item.

This iron says ENTERPRISE IRON PAT MAY 24, 70 and ENTERPRISE MFG CO PHILA on the top side edges.

This iron (or a door stop) is in nice antique condition and has a black finish.

NOTE: These irons were called Sad irons because “Sad” is an Old English word for “solid". The term “sad iron” is often used to distinguish the largest and heaviest of flat irons, usually 5 to 9 pounds, such as this iron.

This is an Enterprise Company, located in Philadelphia, PA. This company specialized in making hardware products like cherry pitters, apple peelers, coffee mills and of course, irons.

Measurements :
Iron- 7" long x x 3 3/4" wide x 4 3/4" high


The iron weighs about 5 3/4 lbs. before packaging for shipment.




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