January, 1907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



29 



Electric flatirons are now quite extensively used in the 

 kitchen and sewing-room. Travelers find them most useful for 

 pressing out clothing that has been mussed or creased in 

 packing; ladies find them useful for ironing out flimsy shirt 



Rear View of the Hair-drying Machine 



waists and lace collars and cuffs which they would not dare 

 intrust to the usually careless laundress. Outside of the 

 household electric flatirons are commonly used in tailoring 

 shops of all classes, and even architects and engineers have 

 begun to employ them for smoothing out blue-prints and 

 plans. 



One of the latest electrical novelties Is the hair-drying ma- 

 chine. This combines both electric heat and electric power. 

 It consists of a casing which Incloses coils of resistance wire 

 and an electric fan. The fan sucks air into the casing over 

 the resistance wires and the latter heat the air to any desired 

 temperature under control of the operator. A flexible tube 



Electric Machine for Chopping Cabbage 



communicates with this casing and receives the current of 

 heated air, permitting the operator to direct the current 

 where desired. When properly handled twelve persons can 

 be treated in one hour at a cost of but a fraction more than 

 one cent each. I'he kitchen offers an excellent field for elec- 

 trical apparatus. Already many electrical cooking outfits 



have been invented. The electric range is a convenient little 

 piece of kitchen furniture whose chief charm lies in the fact 

 that it Is ready for instant use at the touch of the switch, and 

 Immediately after the cooking Is done, the power can be cut 



Electric Potato-paring Machine 



off. I his results In a great saving of expense, doing away 

 entirely with that wasteful consumption of energy which Is 

 necessary in coal ranges In keeping the fire going so that the 

 range will be ready for use. The electric range also possesses 

 an advantage over the gas stove, its closest competitor. In 

 that no match is required to light It, and it is entirely free 

 from odors. One of our Illustrations shows a small electric 

 broiler which will cook a medium-sized steak at a cost of but 

 two cents. The electrical restaurant, shown In another of 

 our illustrations, serves to exemplify the convenience and 

 adaptability of electricity to kitchen work. It will be seen 

 that the cooking apparatus Is placed In the center of the res- 

 taurant with no attempt to screen It off from the rest of the 

 room. Here the manager. In a business suit, does the cook- 

 ing while chatting with his patrons with no fear whatever of 



Washing Dishes in an Electrically Operated Machine 



