in a grandparent’s home.
They may have watched someone use one.
Or they may have heard stories about ironing clothes before modern appliances became commonplace.
That’s why photographs of antique household objects often generate such enthusiastic discussions.
One generation sees a mystery.
Another sees a memory.
A Reminder of How Much Has Changed
The charcoal iron is more than an old tool.
It is a snapshot of everyday life from a different technological era.
Modern people sometimes think of technological progress in terms of dramatic inventions—cars, airplanes, computers, smartphones, and
