Summary

'Hot Cross' gas iron. Unlike other gas irons this has no chimney vent to conduct away the products of combustion.

Hot Cross irons were advertised in Australian newspapers from at least 1908. In 1913 Cullinanes Ltd boasted that the Hot Cross iron was 'the king of all gas irons, because it accomplishes most with the smallest consumption of gas' (the Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette, 15 April 1913, p.1). They were sold for seven shillings sixpence. Hot Cross irons came in three models: No. 1 (5 1/2", 5 lbs), No. 2 (6", 6 lbs) and No. 3 (6 1/2", 7 1/2 lbs). Stands were also available. By 1923 Mark Foy's in Melbourne was offering them in clearance sales, likely signalling the end of their availability.

The Hot Cross iron was developed from a patent by Cross and Kirby, and was manufactured by William Cross and Son Ltd in their Lyng Foundry at West Bronwich, England (Glissman, 1970, p.149 & 207). Their catalogue claimed Hot Cross irons had 'an unrivalled reputation for Simplicity and Efficiency for all kinds of Household Laundry Work, EASY TO USE, PERFECTLY SAFE, Ready to use in a few minutes. TOP JAPANNED & GILT. BODY HIGHLY POLISHED.' They were also 'ABSOLUTELY FREE FROM SMELL'. William Cross manufactured other irons too, including the 'Otto' gas iron, 'Charma' charcoal box iron and 'Lyng' sad iron.

Gas irons, first developed in Ohio in 1857, were connected by flexible tube to a gas supply. Generally a cock on the intake shaft regulated the flow of gas, and a valve controlled air intake into a mixing chamber. After ignition, the combined air and gas burned in a perforated tube inside the iron. A deflector directed the heat to the base of the iron, while air vents supported combustion (Berney, 1977, p.78).

Physical Description

Gas iron with heavy cast body pointed at one end, handle with wood grip attached at one end only (single post handle, to maximize cooling) and shaft with connector for gas inlet. The iron has a Maltese Cross on its upper body.

More Information

  • Collecting Areas

    Home & Community

  • Acquisition Information

    Donation from Mr John Askew, 05 Apr 1928

  • Manufacturer

    William Cross & Son, Ltd, circa 1900-1920

  • Classification

    Domestic life, Laundering - ironing, Appliances - gas

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Technology

  • Type of item

    Object

  • Overall Dimensions

    27 cm (Length), 11 cm (Width), 15 cm (Height)
    10 inches long

  • References

    Esther S. Berney, 1977. A Collector's Guide to Pressing Irons and Trivets. Crown Publishers, New York. A.H. Glissman, 1970. The Evolution of the Sad Iron. A.H. Glissman, Carlsbad, California. Advertising. (1913, April 15). Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette (Qld. : 1868 - 1919), p. 1. Retrieved February 16, 2016, from [Link 1] Advertising. (1923, February 19). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved February 16, 2016, from [Link 2]

  • Keywords

    Gas Irons