Historical information

THE CARRON COMPANY

The Carron Company established its ironworks on the banks of the River Carron in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, in 1759, and became an incorporated company in 1773. The company was the largest ironworks in Europe during the 19th century. It supplied ammunition and armaments, steamboat engines, pig iron, cast iron goods such as flat irons, balustrades, fire grates and bath tubs, pillar boxes and telephone boxes, and even cast iron rings for underground tunnels. In 1982 it became insolvent and was taken over by the Franke Corporation, using the brand Carron Phoenix.

Significance

This iron is representative of the domestic appliances used throughout Australia up until electricity became widely available for domestic use.

Physical description

An antique Carron iron made of solid cast iron. These types of iron were nicknamed "sad irons" from the Old English where "sad" was originally a word which meant "heavy and solid". Typically, there would be two irons simultaneously in use: one to iron with and one being heated up on the stove or in the fire. This iron has a flat bottom and back and it curves to a point at the front. It has a goose neck handle which has a twist. Irons such as this were often given the name "goose" irons. Near the front of the iron on its top '11' is marked. These irons were used from the late 18th to mid 20th centuries before electricity was widely available in all areas, particularly in rural environments.

Inscriptions & markings

On top of iron "CARRON"

Subjects

References