The scarce Doty Fluter / Fluting Iron – a complete set as originally sold for Sale

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The scarce Doty Fluter / Fluting Iron – a complete set as originally sold For Sale

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The scarce Doty Fluter / Fluting Iron – a complete set as originally sold:
$225.00

~ The scarce Doty Fluter / Fluting Iron – acomplete set as originally sold ~

This wonderful antique fluting iron comes with TWO castiron corrugated slugs that slide underneath the brass fluting plate after itwas heated. Both are marked with the 1872 patent date manufactured by Henry A.Doty of Wisconsin. The two slugs were necessary since you could heat the secondwhile using the first and then switch out immediately as the first became cool,reducing the \"down time\" while pleating your sleeves, necklines andhems. This piece is in amazing condition for its age with all parts intact andjust a bit of tarnish and wear!

Weight: 4.5 lbs
Size (approximate): base 7” x 4” x 2\", iron is 5” x 4” x 4\"

This unique and scarce fluter was patented by Francis B.Perkins of Elgin, Illinois. Perkins was awarded patent number 128,168, on June18, 1872. While the patent called for a ‘rocker’ style hand fluter, it wasdecided for mass production, a roller would be more efficient. The Bed plate and roller are corrugated sheetbrass. Perkins thought that brass sheetwould not soil fabric, and was sufficiently pliable to easily furrow garments. The iron lugs corresponded in shape to thebed plate under which it was slid, also served as a support.

A year later, the Elgin Fluter, used the same Perkins’ patentto produce a smaller, more lightweight version of the Doty Fluter. I suspect it was called the Elgin Flutersince that is where the inventor, Francis Perkins lived, and from where he filedhis patent.

PROMINENCE: Page 50, plate 92Bfrom “A collector’s Guide to Pressing Irons and Trivets,” by Esther S. Berney.

BACKGROUND: In 1853, a uniquemachine shop began producing agricultural implements in Janesville, Wisconsin.In 1865 brother R. J. and Hamilton Richardson plus brothers Ezra P., Ellis andWilliam M. Doty purchased the machine shop, and began manufacturing washingmachines under the nameDoty Brothers & Richardson. Our sourcesdisagree on the exact sequence of events leading to this partnership, but someof these men purchased the shop and began making washers, and the others joinedthem within a year. By 1869, they achieved considerable success and theyrapidly improved their washing-machine designs, although increasing competitionpushed them to diversify into irons and fluting machines.

The Doty Brothers & Richardson merged with anotherJanesville manufacturer, the Badger State Agricultural Implement ManufacturingCo., with the merged firm was titled theDoty Manufacturing Company.

Henry A. Doty, recognized as a highly respectedbusinessman, was educated in Janesville’s “city schools” and then attendedJanesville’s Commercial College, earning his degree in 1867. He became GeneralManager of his father’s Doty Manufacturing company in 1869, serving until 1873.