Fighting wrinkles has been a preoccupation since the beginning of civilized life. As a result, irons have been a household necessity for centuries. Collectible irons were made from the mid-1800s up to the 1950s. The first irons were just that - a heavy chunk of iron with a handle. They were kept in a fire until hot, then removed to press the clothes. Irons cooled rather quickly, so many women kept more than one iron in the fire at any given time. Some of the fancy earlier models had handles that could be swapped out and used with different bases. Coal-powered irons eventually replaced these models, with a hollowed-out base where hot coals were inserted. The early electric irons are also good-looking, and are becoming more popular as collectibles. Irons are still easy to track down at flea markets and antique stores, and you'll find at least one in every Cracker Barrel Old Country Store®.
