Mary Potts of Ottumwa, Iowa came up with her idea of the “sad” irons with detachable handles. They were called “sad” because they were heavy irons. Her creation was then patented in 1871. This was unheard of at the time because women’s rights still had not taken off and women could not even vote yet. So, to have a female inventor was really quite unusual. The invention was simply a detachable handle for pressing irons. Several irons could be kept on the stove to heat. The handle could attach to one and be used until the iron cooled and then the handle could be easily switched with to another hot iron. Potts claimed that her irons were insulated with a filler material that was a non-conductor of heat to keep the irons hot for longer periods of time.
She exhibited her invention at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. If it isn’t incredible enough that she received a patent at this time, there’s more. She also received patents for several variations to the original “sad” iron. Potts’ product was widely manufactured and sold in both the U.S. and Europe. Today, her invention is well-known by antique collectors. This “sad” iron changed forever a very laborious and lengthy household chore of ironing.
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