Electric Iron

Chrome-plated electric flatiron, dry, no steam function. Triangular-shaped soleplate, curved, streamlined body, narrow heel rest. Horizontal handle, curved and molded black bakelite with three bent, chrome-plated metal wires. Fabric gauge on back end of handle, red molded plastic knob. Above knob is debossed and colored white: “KM” with lightning bolt. Power cord attaches to back of handle, fabric cord, metal coil, black and gold cord, with black plastic plug, two-pronged. Extended heel rest, stamped/engraved: "115V. A.C. ONLY 1000W./ PATS. PEND. PAT. NOS. 1,481,021/1,951,176/99,170/CAT. NO. 468-7/TEL-A-MATIC/MF’D. BY K-M COMPANY/ST. LOUIS, U.S.A.”. Left side is stamped: “25379”

Patents:

1,481,021, January 15, 1924, Laurence K. Marshall, assignor to Spencer Thermostat Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts, for “Temperature-controlled apparatus”

1,951,176, March 13, 1934, John E. Smith, assignor to Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Missouri, for “Coating machine and process”

99,170, March 31, 1936, Howard Smith, assignor to Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Missouri, for “Design for a sadiron”

This iron is from the Hoover Company Sample collection, North Canton, Ohio, including samples by Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis (Missouri), which was bought by Hoover in 1969. It is noted: “Hoover Company Collection tag Sample 25379/Rec’d. April 72/Model 468-7; Knapp-Monarch tag, dated 1937.”

Maker is the Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1925 as A.S. Knapp and Company, not as a manufacturer, but to sell products. The company merged with manufacturer Monarch Company of Webster City, Iowa, in 1928. In 1969 the company was acquired by the Hoover Company.

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