Found a Mary Proctor Ironing Board but need help please
 

Hi, I came across one at Savation Army today and picked it up for 3.99. Made in 1972. However, it won't stay up. I found the metal rod that slides up and down to keep it at the right height. I straightened out the rod and put it back on, feeding it through the round holes in the top and bottom of the brace but it's missing something to keep it in place. Attached is a picture that I found of a working ironing board that shows how it should look.

This is where I could use help, please. I think it's missing a piece that creates a lock on the rod and which is released when the lever is pressed. Or maybe the rod is feeding through the brace at the wrong place. It appears blue in this picture.

If anybody has this ironing board, would you be able to describe this piece and how it attaches to the mechanism? Or if there is nothing on the rod, perhaps I've fed it through the brace incorrectly. Perhaps I can find something at the hardware store or fashion it myself. It's a really heavy board - sadly missing the cord holder, if it was ever part of this model.

Thanks in advance.

Also, I'm wondering about something else. There's a plastic knob near the botom of one leg that screws into it. I unscrewed it and tried to extend the leg but it wouldn't budge. Can anybody tell me what the purpose of the knob is? Thanks.

I have the same board, but a bit rusty! The knob you refer to is a leveling aid. You adjust it, pressing down on the board, and you will see it stabilizes the board. Gret ironing boards!

This looks like my board which was purchased in 1962. Still in use, it stays out all the time. At the moment could use a fresh cover.

Thanks for the reply. I can see now how the knob works.

I went to a couple of hardware stores today to see if I could find something to fix it but just decided to put a rod or bolt through the holes in the channel to keep it fixed in place (up) all the time. As it is, I hadn't taken down the ironing board in over two years so why do I need to have this one go up or down. :)

(My current ironing board is a cheapo from Craigslist that I bought when I - in a weirded-out moment - gave my some my old ironing board for his new apartment. What was I thinking?)

Now to make a long board to go on top...

Thanks,
Cathy

great find!! my board stays up all the time too!!