Three all metal irons, each with decorative metal trivet, and a metal iron with curved wooden handle and metal trivet.

Toy irons were very much in the category of toys that were preparing little girls for adulthood. With these miniature replicas of their mothers' irons, girls could iron their dolls' clothes after they had been washed. They could even perhaps help with the family wash by ironing the handkerchiefs for their mother.

While this may appear very obvious stereotyping of play, girls were generally not averse to playing with these toys that allowed them to play at 'being Mother', just as boys would happily play with construction toys, which were seen very much as 'boys' toys'. Toy manufacturers and retailers are still manufacturing and selling this type of toy - although updated in modern pink or mauve plastic.

Jaffe, Deborah. The history of toys: from spinning tops to robots, Stroud [England]: Sutton, 2006

King, Constance Eileen. The encyclopedia of toys, Adelaide : Rigby, 1978

Hampshire Museum Services: Childhood collection. A brief history of toys

Powerhouse Museum Collection: search for 'Toy irons'

State Library of South Australia: Mortlock Wing exhibitions. To be a child August 2004-