Flat irons
The simplest flat irons were made of solid iron and heated on the kitchen range. More complicated irons had hollow chambers that held slow-burning charcoal. At the end of the 19th century paraffin and oil-fired irons were introduced, then gas-powered came on the market. These were only useful in towns with gas supplies. Finally, the electric iron was invented, and this soon became popular. Today's electric irons are light, and ironing has become relatively simple. Modern fabrics, too, are easier to iron.

By the 1940s, advertisements encouraged people to buy electrical domestic products such as irons and vacuum cleaners. To sell the "Ironright Automatic Ironer" the advertising campaign created a graphic that turned the machine into a 'woman' called Penny Ironright who said:

Let me come and work for you,
Ironing is the job I'll do.

For women, who were burdened with housework, including ironing, anything that made tasks less tiring and time-consuming was welcome. John Wright and Company's green enamel gas-powered iron was heavy so it did not make ironing particularly easy, but it did make it quicker.

An iron is not complete without its companion, the ironing board. It has been said that the perfect ironing board has yet to be invented. Most are difficult to unfold and fold up. Ironing boards need to be adjustable to adapt to the different heights of the people using them.

Ironing used to be even harder and more tiring work than it is today. Fabrics like wool, linen and canvas are much harder to press than today's lighter and often synthetic fabrics. Early irons were very heavy. Victorian irons were metal and heated on stoves, but this 1940s iron used gas to make it hot. This was more efficient, as the heat was more controlled and consistent, but this iron is still very heavy.

The gas was attached to the iron from the domestic gas supply through the tap and tube at the back of the iron. There are two rows of six jets inside the body of the iron, and gas flowed from these jets, which were then lit. This heated the metal base, making it hot enough to press out creases.

It was a design challenge to protect the user from burning her hand as the iron heated up. A thick black metal plate bolted over the green enamel element kept the heat away from the user, and the handle is made of plastic, which does not conduct the heat. The iron has a matching green enamel stand.

"John Wright & Company Ltd. Flow No 375" is printed in white on the black top, telling us the maker and model.