Inside, charcoal could be placed to generate heat.
The bottom of the iron was made from metal and became hot enough to press fabric.
The overall design was intended to balance several needs at once.
It had to become hot.
It had to retain heat.
It had to be heavy enough to press clothing effectively.
And, most importantly, it needed to be manageable enough for someone to move across fabric.
That is why the object in the photograph looks much heavier and more substantial than the lightweight irons most people use today.
Why Was It Called a “Box” Iron?
The name comes from its general shape.
Unlike some earlier flat irons, which were essentially solid pieces of metal with a handle, a box iron had a hollow interior or chamber.
That space was used to hold a heat source.
In this case, the heat source was charcoal.
The box-like construction allowed the user to carry the heat along with the iron instead of repeatedly placing a solid iron on a stove to heat it.
