Mrs. Potts Sad Irons - Midwest Sad Iron Collectors Club

Mrs. Potts Sad Irons

Mrs. Potts Trade Card
Mrs. Potts Sad Irons Trade Cards

Original Patent Model of Mrs. Potts Sad Iron
Patented 1871 by Mary Potts

This patent model shows that the body of the iron was cast hollow and was later filled with material that was a non-conductor of heat, such as plaster of Paris, cement or clay. Mrs. Potts claimed in her patent that this material held the heat longer so that more garments could be ironed without reheating the iron.

Mary Potts received a series of patents for variations on her iron. Some patents also were reissued. This item is part of the Homer Blair Patent Model Collection on exhibit at the Franklin Pierce Law Center Intellectual Property Library in Concord, New Hampshire.

Quote from their web page:: "14. Sad Iron, U. S. Patent 113,448, April 4, 1871, Mary Florence Potts, Ottumwa, Iowa. The invention is a detachable handle for pressing irons. This permits a person to heat a number of iron bodies on a stove, attach the handle to one and iron with it until it cools, then attaching it to another heated iron body.
The model is 8" x 5" x 6" and has a metal body with a smooth bottom, a gold colored metal latch, and wood handle. The body is filled with a white non-conducting material, perhaps Plaster of Paris. The name "Mary Florence Potts" is engraved in script. This model is in very good condition.
This is the famous "Mrs. Potts' Sad Iron" that was widely manufactured and licensed in the United States and Europe. Her picture was featured in advertising. Her iron was exhibited in the Centennial Exhibition at the Smithsonian and also in the 1976 Bicentennial Exhibition. Mrs. Potts' iron is well known by antique dealers and collectors. "

We encourage you to visit this fascinating site! Other iron patent models of interest:
Reversable Sad-Iron, U. S. Patent 166,421, August 3, 1875, Thomas T. Smothers, Bryan, Texas
Sad-Iron Heater, U. S. Patent 70,572, November 5, 1867, George Hurdman, Wolverhampton, England.

During the 1999 MSICC Convention in Lisle/Naperville, IL on July 23rd and 24th, Elizabeth Carlson portrayed Mrs. Potts. She is a researcher, published historian, educator and lecturer. She is a professional museum curator and holds a Bachelors degree in history. She does Mrs. Potts portrayals for Historical Societies, civic groups and schools and we were thrilled to receive her visit during this meeting so that we could learn more about the life and inventions of Mrs. Potts.

Elizabeth Carlson portraying Mrs. Potts

Photo Credits: Jerry Fingerman (patent model picture) & Jerry Jankowski (portrayal pictures).

Midwest Sad Iron Collectors Club - MSICC

Jerry Marcus
67-10 161st Street
Flushing, NY 11365-3163
E-mail: MidwestSadIron@aol.com