I picked up an old Model 85 Ironrite Mangle at an auction the other day. An old antique store was being liquidated, so I bought it just for the heck of it. I’ve got it at the shop, but I haven’t gotten to fiddle with it to see if it will still work. I don’t really have an application for it, but wondered if it would be handy for pressing yardage fabric?

CD in Oklahoma

It should work good for yardage. My mother had one and ironed the sheets, t-shirts, etc.

Can you post a picture. I've never heard of one. Thanks.

Yes, it will be wonderful for yardage. In fact, there wasn't anything that needed to be ironed (that meant just about everything in the 60's and 70's) that I didn't iron on my Ironrite.

It will take some practice to get good at it. It is operated with a knee lever. I hope it came with a user's manual. You'll need some instructions.

A bit of advice - before you try to use it, make sure it has a good supply of oil. It needs it just like your car engine does; you pour it right in. It uses a very fine grade of oil. Only problem - I don't know where you can buy it nowadays. Maybe if you google it you come up with something. Good luck!

I am curious what it is. I guess I will google it...

I took photos and test operated my Ironrite. It works! The roller motor runs and the heating element works, but the knee levers to stop and raise the roller don’t respond correctly. I’m hoping they just need adjustment. I couldn’t run it for long because it needs oil in the gearbox. From what I understand, the Ironrite Oil was a 50 weight non-detergent oil. Some sites that I’ve found say that SAE 40 oil can be used, so I’ll look around and see what I can find locally. I doubt that I’ll be able to find actual “Ironrite Oil” anymore.

The outside of the metal cabinet has rusty scuffed areas and will need to be repainted, but otherwise, it’s not been banged around too much. This model was made in the late 40s and early 50s, and with a serial number of AB315547. I’d guess this one is an early 50s model.

CD in Oklahoma

I googled "User's Manual for Ironrite Mangle" and on Ebay found a Model 85 Instruction Manual for $11.79 (Buy It Now),
also a roller cover for $36.99 (looks like you could use a new one), and there's also a service manual available for a few dollars.

What is the lever doing? If I remember correctly, you use your knee to push it to the right and release it, the roller will come down and start rolling against the iron and just keep rolling until you stop it by pushing the level again to release it. If you push the level to the right and hold it there, the roller will come down on the iron, roll for a few seconds, then lift up, come down again, roll, and lift up again, and just keeps repeating this process until you release the lever. Is this what yours is doing?

I have a new copy of the operating manual that came yesterday. There’s also some good videos that I found on Google that Ironrite made back years ago, showing how to use the ironer. I think I’ll try making my own roller cover, but I might look into the Service Manual.

There’s very little oil in the gearbox, so I didn’t run it long enough to really determine how the levers respond or what they need. I’ll test them better once I get some oil in it.

Thanks for your help.

CD in Oklahoma

You're most welcome. Good luck. I kinda envy you! Those pictures bring back so many memories. Let us know how it's going!

My mom had one of those when I was little! It would be great for ironing yardage!

I have one. I love it for scraps and yardage.

Thanks for the pictures and additional information. Appreciate it.

Okay so that's what my mom had back in her sewing room years ago. Not sure what happened to it after we left that house. Thanks for the memories!

After seeing the pic, I remember seeing one of these at an auction.

ThayerRags;3471131 I live in San Francisco and only wear cotton because I am allergic to Polyester and many artificial fabrics. I do iron my shirts, my antique tablecloths, and antique napkins to a professional polish as if they came from the laundry or dry cleaner. It is a wonderful machine and irons any type of clothing, sheet, anything cotton. Here is a video of how to use the machine. The ironer irons anything in less than 1/2 the time of a conventional iron.
http://ia600508.us.archive.org/0/ite...946_2_edit.mp4



CD in Oklahoma[/QUOTE]

Yup, that's the one. My mom had one too. It'll be great for doing any fabric you want flat. Good job.

My Mom had one too I loved doing sheets pillow cloths and hankies on it! Do not know what ever happened to it.

I use one for sheets, pillow cases, shirts, etc.

Some things to note: Test the temperature! These were designed in the day of cotton, linen, etc They run hot! Today's synthetics can scorch. Keep the temp low! Wipe down the motor before use. These tend to spray (drip?) oil which can transfer to the fabric as it falls toward the back over the motor.

I had never heard of one except in a short story by Stephen King about an industrial mangle being possessed by a demon. Way back in the 70’s. Strange what we remember.

My Mom had one and I learned to do shirts, pillow cases, sheets and je=ust about anything else on it at an early age. I have often thought I wish I had kept it when we cleaned out my Moms house - I might not be adverse to pre-washing if I still had it - lol. Good luck with your purchase!!

Isn't there a modern home version of a mangle available now. I do remember my grandmother using one for her ironing.......it was facinating to watch....

There was a really nice one up for auction online here in the last few days.

bkay

I have an Ironrite and am not sire of the model number. Have not used it in years. Used it to iron pillow cases, table cloths and anything that was flat.

My mom used one almost daily, it made quick work of ironing. I learned how to use it, I was able to help my mom iron all my dad's clothing, even his boxer shorts. Back then women ironed everything.

I think it should be great for ironing yardage. My grandmother taught me to use hers so many years ago. I ironed sheets, pillowcases, even dress shirts but had to stay away from buttons. She ironed dress pants with it also.

Steam sewing presses! I got one new for about $150 and one at a thrift shop for $15. I couldn't have predicted how wonderful they are. Can't imagine pressing yardage or many other things without. No matter how many times we hear pressing, not ironing, it's much more difficult to do repeatedly lifting the iron, especially for yardage or very long seams.

I wouldn't press pleats, folds, interfacing through a mangle, but all work with the sewing press. Sashing!!

In 2009 we had a quilting class that lasted for a little over 2 years. We had every level of experience in it. One of the ladies had a mangle and she brought it when there were several who wanted to make T-shirt quilts. It was wonderful for putting the stabilizer on the back of the design before cutting it out for the quilt.

I've always wanted one. Found a few several years ago, but they were too expensive for me. I wanted it so I could iron yardage without draping over the ironing board and dragging it on the floor.. They're also great for pressing things really flat.

I have a beautiful, vintage mangle that was given to me by my mom. It's not an Ironrite though, but another major appliance brand of the day...I can't remember which. My mom was so thrilled when she found it at a junk store. She brought it home and used it for ironing tablecloths and sheets. Later, she passed it on to me.

The mangle is very, very heavy. It takes 2 people to move it. It also uses an extreme amount of electricity to heat it up. The first time I used it, it was like watching that scene in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," where the electrical meter spins out of control. :) I don't ever use it now because of that, even though it would come in handy for quilting. We're off the grid and on solar and this thing sucks all of the electricity out of our batteries in no time. Alas, it now sits in the back of our storage shed.

That sounds cool. I would definitely pick that up if I found it in an antiques store.

Oh gosh i remember when Eleanor Burns of Quilt In A Day used a similar one to iron yardage on her show. She acted like everyone should have one.

Ironrite 85
 

Does anyone possibly have photos of the gear box? I can’t find any images and the roller isn’t engaging. I can’t tell if I’m missing something. The original schematics are seriously lacking.

What a find! That is so cool! I get to learn something new every day!

Here's a lot of info on it https://sewingiscool.com/ironrite-mangle-iron-model-85/

Google is your friend.

My mother also had a flat roller iron, but I don't remember a top on it....her's was a butter cream yellow I think. We used it for any flatwork (sheets, pillowcases, table clothes etc.) There are times I'd love to have one again for pressing those 108" backings if i had somewhere to put it!

That would be such a help! I used to have a press (until it died) and used it a lot, but a roller iron would be awesome

yep, mangle.those things could "mangle" fingers too!!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangle_(machine)