From:Milton Ulladulla Historical Society

Name/TitleIron, metal, smoothing, with stand

About this object
Petrol smoothing iron used by Ethel Naomi Wilford (nee Mottram) from the time of her marriage to John William Wilford in 1937, until electricity was connected to the farm known as “”Bangalore””, on Hobbs Lane Milton in 1953. The farms out along Woodstock Rd weren’t connected to the power supply until five years after electricity came to Milton itself. The iron was preheated with a methylated spirit wand. When the tubes were hot enough, the tap was turned on and the petrol or Shellite then vaporised, flowed out through a fine jet, and burned inside the iron to produce heat. There was no provision for steam, so a damp cloth was always used with the iron to prevent scorching.”

Medium and Materialsmetal and wood

Measurements190 x 245 x 90 mm

Subject and Association KeywordsDomestic Life (household chattels, food and drink)

Subject and Association KeywordsMilton

Object TypeDomestic object

Object number121.1 and 121.2