For
hundreds of years depictions have shown extensive creases on the tablecloths.
This was achieved by ironing, placing in a napkin press and later, in the mangle.
Several references show that the mangle was available in the early federal
period, but more widespread in the 19th to the early 20th centuries.
While
Philadelphia was the capital, the Morris home became the President’s residence
from November 1790 to March 1797.
Washington had seen a “machine” at Ben Franklin’s home earlier, in
1787. Three years later, Washington
wrote that he would keep the Morris mangle since it was “fixed in place” and
they would take his. The ad is from 1799.
GEORGE WASHINGTON AND MANGLES -
"Visited
a Machine at Doctr. Franklins for pressing, in place of Ironing, clothes from
the wash. Which Machine from the facility with which it dispatches business is
well calculated for Table cloths & such Articles as have not pleats &
irregular foldings and would be very useful in all large families."
George
Washington diary. September 3, 1787 [LC website]
"Mrs.
Morris has a mangle (I think it is called) for ironing clothes, which, as it is
fixed in the place where it is commonly used, she proposes to leave and take
mine. To this I have no objection,
provided mine is equally good and convenient; but if I should obtain any advantages
besides that of its being up and ready for use, I am not inclined to receive
it..."
George
Washington in a 1790 letter to his secretary, Lear, from Mt. Vernon in Mary
White - Mrs. Robert Morris... by Charles Hart, 1878
MORE ON MANGLES -
"Damp
over the things, and iron or mangle them; the latter is used for heavy linen,
such as sheets, towels, table cloths &c."
The
Workwoman’s Guide. London: 1838
"The
appearance of all table-linen is improved by being mangled in a machine,
instead of ironing."
Leslie,
Eliza. Miss Leslie’s Lady’s House-Book. Philadelphia: 1863 19th ed.
"Linen,
cotton, and other fabrics, after being washed and dried, are made smooth and
glossy by mangling and by ironing. The mangling process, which is simply
passing them between rollers subjected to a very considerable pressure,
produced by weight, is confined to sheets, towels, table-linen, and similar
articles, which are without folds or plaits. Ironing is necessary to smooth
body-linen, and made-up articles of delicate texture or gathered into folds.
The mangle is too well known to need description."
Beeton,
Isabella. Book of Household Management, London: 1861
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