Rare Barnes
Patent Swan-on-Swan Box Iron
There are other irons that are sought after and bring big dollar at auctions, but none have the presence, fame, or curb appeal as the heralded Barnes Patent Swan-on-Swan box iron.
The condition of this example is super and a nicer one will be hard to ever come by! There is lots of original nickel left on the base portion, and the top portion is clean and rust or pit free. The one small apology is the small chip in the handle, but in relation to the overall condition this is so minor as to not affect the appeal or value at all. Click for Pic The quality of the casting of this iron are second to none. Few irons I have ever seen or handled show the detail and craftsmanship that this iron does. The detailing is so exact you can count the veins in the feathers on the larger swan's back Click for Pic Click for Pic Click for Pic The smaller swan at the rear acts as the latch to open the iron. It works properly, and is a nicely detailed aspect as well. The iron opens to reveal the original slug. Click for Pic Click for Pic Click for Pic
Last year when Carole and I were at the American River with Madison our Black Lab we witnessed this very thing, as a mother swan ferried her young upstream and away from the danger. A couple of the chicks made the crossing by themselves. But for the others the mother swan went back and they jumped right up on her back, one at a time, and she swam them upstream, through the rapids to their waiting brothers and sisters and safety. It was quite a sight! Click for Pic
The Swan-on-Swan iron was only made for a few short years, but Mr. Barnes put out a few different variations in that time. Most of the differences are in the length and quality of the casting, and this is the 7 1/2 inch version and as far as I can tell the best casting job and the hardest version to find.
RB-S1
Excellent - ........ SOLD!
Decorated
Iron
Box / Slug Iron
PR-1207
Good + ........ SOLD!
Patented
Removable Handle Revolving Iron
I would guess that this is the rarest American patented iron that I have ever owned. There are a number of irons that I think most collectors would agree are to be considered rare---the Dion and the Goat Fluters come to mind, the Gem Thermometer iron would be another, the Swan-on-Swan would fit the category, etc. But all of those mentioned are irons that I have either owned at one time, or have seen in other long-time collections. I would be really curious to know if there is another example of this iron known, as the only reference I have ever seen to it was in Esther Berney's collection as shown in her out-of-print
Collector's Guide to Pressing Irons and Trivets, and I cannot trace where that exact iron is located now that she has passed on. In any case, her research indicated that the December 25, 1877 patent on this iron was held by Oliver Avery, Jr. of Groton, New York (home to another famous iron inventor, Nelson Streeter). This revolving iron consists of a solid base with 4 ironing surfaces---a wide convex polishing side, two narrow sides, and a flat side. The handle detaches for heating
the base, but for when it was in use it allows the base to revolve to all
four sides without completely detaching it by means of a wing-nut release on the grip
that allows the legs of the handle to loosen or tighten against the sides of the base. Like many other great ideas that look good on paper, this one has its problems in actual operation, and from the way it works I would venture to guess that more than once the hot and heavy base of this iron
inadvertently detached from the handle and landed on some poor soul's toes. Its cumbersome operation must have made have doomed it from being a widespread marketing success,
undoubtedly explaining its scarcity. Another great California find!
Excellent ........ SOLD
