Collar and cuff steamer??

[buler]

Picked this up at an antique shop. It was labelled as a collar and cuff steamer. It stands about 15" high, the top piece screws off to allow for water to be added. There are no maker/brand marks on it. I'm guessing it had a paper label that came off. The top steam piece is shaped like a bike seat and is like a miniature ironing board. Anyone seen one or know about it? I've googled to no avail.

Oh yeah, it works too.

B

 

[Patrick Hall]

fascinating piece. I know that old laundries, and perhaps some specialists still in the UK, used to have special machines that allowed them to perfectly shape and starch the hard cuffs and collars that were used before the soft-collar revolution of the 20s. I've never SEEN one of these contraptions, but perhaps that is what you have. Is it clear where the steam is supposed to exit from the water-filled base?

 

[buler]

It comes out of the "bike seat" area. I'm just not envisioning how you would steams cuffs and collars with this....

B

 

[hatsRme]

Real handy find, there, Bill. My guess is that an iron was used to press the pieces onto the contours of the "seat". Similar to hat sweat bands and ribbons, the radiused shape might have been ironed on a curved surface...?