This charcoal chimney iron (also known as a box iron) was used back in the 1800's/1900's for ironing clothes. While ironing clothes with traditional flat irons, irons were left to heat on a wood stove and metal handles had to be gripped in a pad or thick rag. You'd need at least two irons on the go together for an effective system: one in use, and one re-heating. Large households with servants had a special ironing-stove for this purpose. Ironing traditional fabrics without the benefit of electricity was a hot, arduous job. Irons had to be kept immaculately clean, sand-papered and polished. They were kept away from burning fuel, and regularly but lightly greased to avoid rusting. Beeswax prevented irons from sticking to starched cloth. Experience would help decide when the iron was hot enough, but not so hot that it would scorch the cloth. A well-known test was spitting on the hot metal, but Charles Dickens describes someone with a more genteel technique in The Old Curiosity Shop. She held "the iron at an alarmingly short distance from her cheek, to test its temperature...". The idea of box irons came later where one would put glowing coals inside the iron to keep it hot a bit longer. Today, this iron is perfect for a rustic display or refurbishing project.