Clothes Boilers

Clothes boilers are made of:
Copper; Tinned iron; Tinned iron with copper bottoms; Galvanized iron.

Copper is an excellent conductor of heat, and therefore boilers of copper are very satisfactory. They are expensive, however. Those made of tin with copper bottoms have an advantage over those which are wholly of tin. The coating of tin must be heavy as otherwise it wears off and the iron base will be exposed and rust the clothes.

The better quality of boilers are double-seamed to prevent leaking and have wire around the top for additional strength. Wooden handles are cooler than metal ones.

Boilers are usually oval, as this shape fits better on the stove.

The 10 or 12 gallon size is a good one for family use.

Some boilers have faucets, which are a convenience in drawing off the water.

Clothes lifters for lifting the clothes from the boilers are plain, smooth, hard wood sticks with galvanized prongs.