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How To Identify an Antique Trivet * Antique trivet designs are usually a bit larger than their reproductions. * Legs are greater than 1" in length. * A brass trivet may bow in the center from the years of use. * Brass trivets will show verdigris and traces of old polish. * Legs may no longer be straight on brass or cast iron trivets. * Antique American trivets are rarely signed. * British trivets may have an Rd number, which identifies the date the design was registered. (See my Custom Pages on Rd Numbers & the Rd Diamond Series) * If there is a Sprue or Wedge Mark on the reverse, it signifies an older casting which most probably predates 1865. * A prominent Gate-Mark along the side signifies a trivet that probably pre-dates 1890. At that time machine grinding became available; most gate-marks were ground down after 1890 and became less prominent.

The prefix "sad" in sadiron refers to the fact that the metal of the iron itself was heavy and solid. Sadirons came in many shapes and sizes, from small toy irons weighing mere ounces to the largest tailor's irons weighing up to sixty pounds! Some sadiron stands mirrored the shape of an iron, while others were square, round, or oval. Sadiron stands were manufactured both with and without handles. They often featured commercial advertising and were sometimes sold in a set with companion sadirons. Most were made of cast iron, with an occasional brass, bronze, or aluminum stand to be found. Nickel plating was popular, as it resisted rust; but few of those stands exist now in their original, fully plated condition. Stands made in the British Isles may have a Registered Design number on the reverse that can be referenced to determine the year of manufacture. The electric iron appeared in the late 1910s, and completely dominated the ironing market by 1930. Once electric irons were manufactured with an inset heel rest that enabled them to sit upright, a sad iron stand or trivet was no longer strictly necessary.

BOOKS: A variety of wonderful reference books exists, although the majority are older and out of print. They provide information often otherwise unavailable. FAVORITE BOOKS: Trivets & Stands by Kelly & Ellwood Pressing Irons & Trivets by Berney Trivets 1 and Trivets 2 by Hankenson And check out my trivet book, The A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets! CATALOGS are a useful addition to your Reference library. They document the product line of a particular company both by date and by design. OLD MAGAZINES: Old magazines with articles about trivets are intriguing to read and collect, as they often provide additional information that may not appear in any other source. Several of these old articles were written by the noted trivet experts of the time, such as Dick Hankenson and William Paley. Many of these magazines also featured decorative cover art, suitable for framing! FAVORITE MAGAZINES: HOBBIES (1930s-1970s) and SPINNING WHEEL (1960s-1970s).