What is this?

[amber42]

Any ideas what this is? An iron with a bit on the side. My father found it. He says he thinks it is just put together as a conversation piece I thought I would post it and see if you agree or did it have a purpose?

Oh dear photo hasn't come out! Dont know why. Sorry!

Trying another photo.

[Mike in Cumbria]

Does it drip water on to the garment being ironed?

[amber42]

Don't think so as top of pipe is small and don't know how you would feed it with water to drip. I wondered could you put a candle in the top? But then movement of iron back and forth would surely  blow candle out.

[Mike in Cumbria]

Don't think so as top of pipe is small and don't know how you would feed it with water to drip.

Is that funnel shaped thing at the top of the pipe not hollow then? Is it open at the top?

[amber42]

Yes  it is. Perhaps a rubber pipe could be attached as the pipe stands a little proud in bottom of funnel  as funnel itself would be too small to hold much water.

[joboy]

I go along with Mike's reply #1 .......... I think it allows water held in the bell to drip and form steam to aid the ironing ... a sort of early steam iron.... only problem with that is that the pipe at the lower end must be 'pinched' to limit the flow of water and the photo does not show if this is so.
Joe

[youngtug]

Looks like a homemade add on. The pipe seems to obstruct the handle in the view we have. I would have thought that was there to feed a liquid onto the surface being worked, wether water onto cloth, like joboy said, or some other liquid and worked material. The feed could be controlled by just pouring into the cup has needed or a piece of clothe or cotton wool could be be put into the cup to restrict the flow.

[Finley 1]

I think  ........   that it was to 'heat' the iron with?? some kind of little boiling system..

  maybe put some oil or something in it and it goes down to the iron and heats it..

Maybe the first portable iron??

just me thinking... and you know what thats like    

xin

[Rudolf H B]

To feed a liquid or water would make sense for a one-handed person.

But is it still easy to handle it as iron?

If not, it might be a secondary use as candlestick.
Just a heavy thing to hold a candle.

In Germany there is a TV show "Dings vom Dach" - things found in the attic ...

Rudolf