Old Hearth Wafer Iron

[Tom Neitzel]

This is an old, beat up wafer iron that I bought for $10.  It's pretty corroded, took me a while with the lye and molasses to get it decent.  Age-wise I would guess 1880-1890 or so, maybe a decade or two earlier.  Wrought iron handles, might be German or German influence.

Look closely at the design and see if you see what I did.  It just set me back in my chair.

Pictures are of the inside and outside of one paddle, then the inside and outside of the other.

I'm leaving for a convention in Littlerock in a couple hours so I might not be on for a day or two to answer anything.

Tom

[Tom Neitzel]

I told you it was in rough shape, but just an amazing iron.

The picture below is pruported to be the Great Seal of the United States.  I've seen discussion that it may be more related to our 16th State, Tennessee, coming into the Union since there are just 16 stars in the design.

Look at it, the look at the old iron again.  See anything odd?

Tom

[Valerie Johnson]

The eagle is there but it has been covered over, the wing tips and legs with the laurel and arrows are visible plus the detail above the eagle is similar or the same

[Tom Neitzel]

Yes, never seen a ghost on a wafer iron.  The olive branch, arrows tail and stars are there.  The clouds have been obliterated by another design.

I was sure surprised.

[Dwayne Henson]

They certainly were not a disposable society back then! Modify and use it.

[Jim Fuchs]

A first for me Tom. Just good stuff! Thanks for posting this. Always something new to see and learn