Would you want to use this charcoal-fueled iron on your clothes? Today, it's better as a collectible curiosity than a usable appliance.

By Terry and Kim Kovel

Every obsolete device was once the latest technology. A clothes iron heated by charcoal might sound laughably old-fashioned today, but it was an improvement on the earlier sadirons. “Sad” was an old word for “heavy,” and sadirons got their name from the solid metal bases that had to be heated directly on a stove. Adding fuel, in the form of hot coals, directly to the iron made things a little more convenient but imagine the risk of getting coal dust on your freshly washed clothes. To say nothing of the smoke!

This brass-plated iron by J. Schwieger and E. Frost has a hinged lid that closes with a latch, keeping the coals safely inside, and a vent that allows air in to flow around the coals and directs smoke away from the ironing — and from the person doing it. This iron sold for $248 at Hartzell’s Auction Gallery. It’s safe to assume it was bought by a collector, not for practical use.

Even though antique irons sell to collectors, most of us would prefer using today’s electric irons — or, better yet, not having to iron at all. Maybe the greatest invention of all would be fabrics that never need pressing.

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Q: These two plates have been in my family since before I was born. They once belonged to my great-aunt, and I’m the third generation to own them. Each plate has a raised design of a castle in a landscape and a raised feathery border. Both have a mark on the back with the letters “J.S.” inside a shield shape. One of them has “Hohenschwangau 3518” on the back and the other says “Wartburg 3156.” They’re quite fragile and one has sustained some damage, though not on my watch. Is there any information you might be able to come up with as to a value?

A: The mark on the back of your plates is for Josef Strnact, a pottery that was active in Turn-Teplitz, Bohemia (now Tronovany, Czech Republic), a region known for its pottery and decorative arts, from 1881 to 1932. The company decorated porcelain and made the thick, fragile tin-glazed pottery called faience or majolica. Your plates have relief views of famous castles in Germany that were restored in the 19th century and are still popular tourist attractions today. Pairs of plates like yours are usually worth about $250. Damage lowers the value.

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Q: I would like to know how much my upholstered sofa is worth. It was made by Schweiger furniture company and dated December 1977.

A: Schweiger was an upholstery manufacturer that started in Jefferson, Wisconsin, in 1899. They produced mid-priced living room furniture, including chairs, sofas and sleeper sofas. By the 1970s, they had additional plants in Virginia, Mississippi and Utah. The company closed in 2004. In 2018, the Schweiger Industries Plant III in Jefferson was added to the National Register of Historic Places. 1970s furniture does not often sell for high prices unless it is by a major designer. Upholstered furniture can be difficult to sell; it shows wear easily and is expensive to repair. Sofas like yours usually sell for less than $500.

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Q: I have a set of 12 Czechoslovakian dinner plates marked “A&M.C — Czechoslovakia #6029.” The plate has a gold edge, centered with 3/4 inch of red, green or blue, circled with a half inch gold and flower bouquets in the center. I have not found this series anywhere. I am looking for the value.

A: The state of Czechoslovakia was created in 1918 and split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, but the name was still used in some trademarks afterward. The region has been famous for its quality ceramics and glassware for hundreds of years. Sets of plates marked Czechoslovakia can sell for anywhere from $50 to $500 at auctions, depending on the fame of the maker and quality and condition of the plates. A company called R&M Co. had a pattern called 6029 that sounds like yours, but we have not yet found out any more about them. Porcelain companies often changed names, merged with or sold to other companies, introduced new brands or changed their marks, so it can be difficult to track down lesser-known companies. A matching service may have more information. There are also collectors’ clubs for Czechoslovakian decorative arts, like the Czech Collectors Association (czechcollectors.org) that may be able to help you.

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CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

Silver-sterling, tea set, serving tray, rectangular, scalloped rim, open handles, teapot, coffeepot, sugar and creamer, miniature, 4 3/8 x 2 5/8 inches, $75.

Paris, lamp, oil, carcel, painted scenes, stork, wolf, rabbit, frogs, light blue top and base, original burner and chimney, c. 1850, 18 1/2 inches, $185.

Toy, Star Trek, playset, U.S.S. Enterprise, command center, console, six viewscreen scenes, box, Mego, 1975, $250.

Fostoria, lampshade, heart and vine, opalescent, gold iridescent interior, flared ruffled rim, 1910, 5 1/2 inches, pair, $295.

Stoneware, jar, lid, Acme Pickles, barrel shape, ivory glaze, blue stencil lettering, The J. Weller Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, 13 inches, $380.