Sad Iron: Enterprise Girl's Toy Iron #105, circa 1870s; value $75

Stove Lid Lifter: "Barstow Ranges," late 1800s; value $35

Stove Trivet: "Slow Cooking Cover," 7" diameter, late 1800s; value $45

Washboard: 18" tall Washboard with Victorian swimsuit advertising; value $65

Washing Machine Wringer: "Horseshoe Brand" wringer from 1910; value $125

What’s a “Go With?” It’s any complementary piece that adds interest to a collection. One category that comes to mind is kitchenalia, pieces of which can provide the perfect accent to many collections.

If future resale value is important to you, then select items that are identifiable. A collectible that can be traced as to manufacturer is generally more valuable, and dated items are always in higher demand. Period advertising on any item also validates its age and makes it more collectible. Keep in mind that items in better to fine condition will be the most likely to appreciate in value. And don’t forget to follow the collector’s credo: Always Buy the Best You Can Afford!

You should be able to find an old sad iron or stove lid lifter for as little as $15 to $25, with prices for those and other items escalating according to age, condition and scarcity. Here are some suggestions to get you started:

Let’s start with Sad Irons. What does the word “sad” mean? Heavy! These irons were made of cast metal and increased in size according to the particular job they had to perform. Some tailor’s irons weighed more than 20 pounds! Some irons are quite valuable and end up in private collections; others that were used for the purpose intended, and show wear, are still wonderful for decorating. You can leave a sad iron “as is” or refinish it to match your decor. Larger, heavier irons make great bookends or doorstops. (In fact, that’s the term that iron collectors use for an iron that has been well used: a doorstop!) If you’re interested in learning more about antique and vintage irons and their values, I’d suggest the Dave Irons series of iron collecting books: Irons By Irons, More Irons By Irons, and Even More Irons By Irons (yes, Dave’s real last name is Irons!).

Early wood-burning stoves had round plates which, when lifted off, revealed the inner workings of the oven. Since these stoves were made of cast iron and became very hot, a special utensil

called a Stove Lid Lifter was needed to move the plates. Most lifters were made of steel or cast iron. Some were nickel- or chrome-plated, a coating that was both decorative and prevented rust. Many featured a company name, since stove companies often gave them away as advertising promotions. Others incorporated a decorative image on the handle.

Trivets are fascinating collectibles that come in all shapes and sizes. One interesting type of trivet was the Stove Trivet. It was built into the upper deck of an antique stove, hinged so it could swing down parallel to the stovetop. A Cereal Trivet, sometimes called a Simmer Cover, sat directly on the hot antique cast iron stovetop allowing the contents of a pot to simmer without being exposed to the direct heat of the burner. This prevented scorching and burning (a motto which was repeated on many trivets). One or more openings along these trivets allowed them to be moved using a stove lid lifter.

Washboards were constructed of either wood or metal, with the rubbing surface made of aluminum coated steel, brass, zinc, tin, graniteware, or glass. Collectible vintage and antique washboards date from the mid-1800s to the 1940s. As you search, be aware that modern versions are still being manufactured and sold today.

Back in the day when clothes were hand washed in a tub, as the final step each piece was fed individually through a Washing Machine Wringer to remove excess moisture. Some wringers were beautifully made of hardwood, designed to mount onto the washtub rim, and when in nice condition display beautifully.

I hope this has piqued your interest! Now … get out there and find yourself a “Go-With!”

 Lynn Rosack is a Worthologist, who specializes in trivets and ironing stands

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Collecting Horseshoe Plaque Trivets is a fascinating hobby! It’s interesting to learn the history, practices and symbols of the different fraternal groups. And then there were the gift trivets … every year I find new examples: Happy Birthday, Happy New Year, Merry Christmas, Home Sweet Home … the list seems endless.

Some Facts about Horseshoe Symbolism

★ By the year 1000 AD cast bronze horseshoes, applied with nails, were being made in Europe.

★ The number seven has long been associated with luck, so it’s not unexpected to learn that a horseshoe was commonly nailed in place (on the hoof) with seven nails.

★ The original good luck Cast Iron Horseshoe was one lost by a horse. In order to be lucky it had to be discovered with the open end facing towards the finder. According to superstition it had to be hung by the same person who found it and with the open end up, in order to hold in the luck.

★ The rules for purchased good luck horseshoes were a bit different. They could be hung as noted above or with the ends pointed downward, so that the luck would flow out to surround and protect.

★ Horseshoes were thought to have the power to repel evil spirits. They were commonly placed over doorways and by chimneys to keep witches or fairies from gaining entrance to the home. A horseshoe nailed over the bed could protect against bad dreams and demons of the night. When used in this fashion the horseshoe ends had to point downward.

How to Identify a Horseshoe Plaque Trivet

Horseshoe plaque trivets differ from traditional trivets in that they are completely flat on the reverse … there are no feet: thus the designation plaque trivet. Some collectors claim that these horseshoe plaque trivets could have served the dual purpose of a sad iron stand: by turning them over, a hot iron could have rested on the flat surface. Is that true? I suppose we’ll never know for sure!

The majority of Horseshoe Plaque Trivets were manufactured from the mid 1800s through the early 1900s, peaking around 1890. They all share the basic horseshoe shape. Beyond that, designs varied according to the theme. Some were carnival prizes and might still bear traces of their original glitter. Others were fraternal emblems, lodge favors, commemoratives or were purchased as gifts. The American Eagle was featured atop many of these plaques, and Good Luck was a favorite sentiment.

Cast in iron, brass or bronze, most horseshoe trivets were six to seven inches in length, each weighing approximately one pound. Some had hanging rings attached to the reverse. Occasionally, larger ones were made for tabletop display, supported by a metal easel.

There were hundreds of different designs featuring fraternal symbols. Since many of those early organizations no longer exist, their histories, acronyms and symbolism can be difficult to research. A wonderful online reference is Richard Hartzog’s Complete List of Fraternal Organizations.

Searching for Horseshoe Plaque Trivets

The traditional place to discover these trivets has been the antique store/mall or flea market. Others would occasionally turn up at estate auctions. However, today the most convenient and efficient place to search is right here on the Internet. And, of course, the Search is half the fun! You’ll find them listed under various headings, such as horseshoe, horse shoe, plaque, paperweight, and wall hanger                                                       

 Lynn Rosack is a Worthologist who specializes in trivets and kitchenalia.

I recently received the following question from a fellow WorthPoint member:

I have a couple Wilton trivets (eagle in wreath w/heart) and I’m interested in the history of the eagle/wreath/heart symbol. Do you have any information on this?

What a great question! The American bald eagle has been prominently featured in many different trivet designs. Eagle and Heart or Eagle is probably the most familiar and often reproduced eagle trivet design. That pattern features an eagle and heart within a circular laurel leaf wreath. According to Rob Roy Kelly & James Ellwood in their 1994 book A Collector’s Guide To Trivets & Stands, the original design dates to the 1860s and can be attributed to the Community of Zoar, Ohio. Reproductions of this design were mass-produced in the 1950s through 1960s by American foundries such as Wilton and John Wright, both of which are still active today.

Let’s consider the subtle message of the American bald eagle. In June of 1782, the Continental Congress adopted the eagle as its national symbol. Later that same year, the Great Seal of the United States was designed and first used. The eagle on the Great Seal has always faced towards the olive branch. However, the eagle on the Presidential Seal, designed in 1880, originally faced the arrows! On Oct. 26, 1945, at the conclusion of World War II, Harry Truman had the Presidential Seal redesigned so that the eagle was facing the olive branch of peace.

What is the significance of direction? When a design features an eagle holding a bundle of arrows and an olive branch in its talons, be sure to note which direction the bird faces. If it faces towards the bundle of 13 arrows, it symbolizes the power of war. If it faces towards the olive branch with thirteen leaves, it symbolizes the power of peace. The number 13 in each symbolizes the original thirteen colonies.

Keep those great questions coming!

Lynn Rosack is a Worthologist who specializes in trivets and kitchenalia.

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What is the difference between Cast Iron and Wrought Iron? Cast iron objects are created from molten metal that has been poured into a mold and allowed to harden. In contrast, wrought iron items are individually created by bending pieces of hot, malleable iron.

The first simple metal castings date to the Neolithic period (6000 – 1800 BC). Through the following centuries different metals were discovered and new techniques were developed. Foundries were prevalent in Europe prior to the first settlers colonizing America, and the Pilgrims brought their knowledge of metal working to America with them. However, it was not until after the Civil War that foundries were well established in the United States. Until then, a blacksmith hand forged the metal objects needed for everyday use.

The most popular metals for casting have been iron, brass and bronze. Iron is the most common metal used for early American trivets. There were many shapes … spade, rectangular, circular, oval, and freeform. In the late 1800s to 1920s it was popular to apply a plated coating (nickel, brass or copper) to iron; the plating served to prevent the formation of rust. A Japanned (lacquer) finish was also popular during the same period and for the same reason.

One method of evaluating age in a trivet is by identifying the Cast Mark, which is the scar left when the downspout or gate is severed after casting. There will be one of three types of casting marks. The first two marks, the Sprue and the Wedge, were typical of trivets pre-dating 1865 and appear on the trivet center reverse. A Sprue mark is round while a Wedge mark is rectangular. The third mark, the rectangular Gate mark or marks, can be found along the rim and was seen in castings where two or more trivets were cast in one mold pour. Pronounced or incompletely filed gate marks are typical of castings predating 1895.

A cast mark is more easily identified on trivets made of iron and bronze, because the hardness of those metals made removing traces of the scar more difficult. Since brass is a softer metal, casting marks were more easily removed during finishing and may not be evident.

Some of the early foundry castings (1870s to 1920s) were thin and delicately formed, exhibiting sharp detail, an openwork design and occasionally letters and/or numbers. Others were more substantial and featured Pennsylvania Dutch designs such as the distelfink or the rosette. There were trivets cast for utilitarian use as iron stands or pot rests. Other trivets served as coffee, tea or table stands.

View the examples provided of the various casting marks, and from now on always examine trivets with an eye for identifying their birthmark!

Lynn Rosack is a Worthologist who specializes in trivets and kitchenalia.