“American Beauty adjustable-automatic Electric Iron, Thermoscope Type, CAT. No. 79-AB (circa 1947)

Heating element 1000 watts input and is of chrome-nickel resistance ribbon with mica insulation.

Cord is American Beauty 10,000 super-flexible heater cord, 7 feet long, with attachment-plug cap.

Sole-plate is of cast iron, with rounded edges and finished in a frictional-resistant chrome plate.

Hood or cover is of steel, chrome-plated.

Handle is of (ruby red) plastics.

Weight of iron is 4 1/2 pounds.

Iron is listed under Re-examination Service of Underwriter’s Laboratories, Inc.

In March of 2003 I obtained an American Beauty Electric Irons dealer catalog labeled 9/47, which I interpret to be September 1947. Inside is a lovely description of their “newest” product, the No. 79-AB ruby red handled iron that I previously described above! Apparently, “Thermoscope Type” generated a big marketing campaign, since this was one of the first irons featuring a dial with fabric settings. The following information, regarding this new feature, is quoted from the dealer catalog:

Thermoscope Type means that it has a thermoscope. The thermoscope is a temperature-indicating device that shows on its dial in fabric graduation- Rayon, Silk, Wool, Cotton, Linen- temperature of the ironing surface. It makes visible to the user at all times the operating the temperature of working surface of the iron. It supersedes the “wet fingertip touch” or other uncertain tests for determining ironing temperature.

The handle is made of durable molded plastic, shaped to fit the hand comfortably and without strain to the wrist or cramping or slipping of fingers. It is removable and replaceable without removing hood or other parts of the iron. It is made in three sections, united and held together as a unit by a through-handle bolt extending from rear through center section into threaded metal insert in the front section. Should one section be broken, it is necessary to replace that section only.

Because of the perfect balance of its light weight; its cool, comfortable, molded plastic handle; its visual temperature indicating device … the thermoscope; its gliding qualities resulting from its specially finished, precision-ground, rounded-edge, sole plate; and its super-flexible heater cord, the No. 79-AB is a device that will meet requirements of the most exacting conditions.”

Rosack, Margaret Lynn. The A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets. Paducah, KY: Collector Books, 2004: 47-48.