Pressing Iron and Trivet Collectors of America (PITCA) maintains a Lending Library for use by its members. The collection includes 600+ books, articles, CDs, DVDs, magazines, newsletters, pamphlets, auction and company catalogs, advertising, instruction manuals, patents, letters, and photos. 

Titles below with an asterisk ✽ are available for checkout through the PITCA Lending Library. Join PITCA and benefit from this valuable resource!

✽ Berney, Esther: A Collector's Guide To Pressing Irons & Trivets, 1977. Over 800 items are illustrated and described, including irons, trivets, advertising cards, patent papers, and pages from brochures and catalogs.

✽ Di Martino, Vittorio & Roswitha: Chinese Smoothing Irons, 2012. This is the first book entirely devoted to the evolution of Chinese Smoothing Irons and their influence on neighboring countries.

✽ Geisert, Jim & Robin: Tuesday’s Reflections: A 30-Year Perspective, 2008/updated 2021. This is a beautifully photographed, self-published softbound catalog of the little irons and trivets in their collection. It makes a nice modern complement to the Politzer books but can be hard to find. 

✽ Glissman, A. H.: The Evolution Of The Sad Iron, 1970. This is considered the first definitive text on pressing irons and remains a classic.

✽ Irons, David: Irons By Irons, 1994; More Irons By Irons, 1997; and Even More Irons By Irons, 2000. These three books will answer any question you have about a pressing iron. Available for sale in the PITCA store.

✽ Politzer, Judy: Tuesday's Children, 1977 and Early Tuesday Morning, 1986. Politzer’s two books are packed with information on toy-sized irons and their matching trivets. The sole-plate of each iron is traced to assist in identification. FYI: Tuesday's Children is sold in the PITCA Store.

✽ Raymond, Jay: Streamlined Irons, 2008. A great reference for anyone with an interest in vintage electric irons. See Jay Raymond's ad in the PITCA store for more information.

Tonnekreek, Ton van der: Strijk Te Kijk (Show And Tell), 2009. Four centuries of irons and other related implements. Lavishly illustrated with many color plates. This book is hard to find.

✽ Walker, Jimmy & Carol: Iron Talk, Journal of Antique Pressing Irons, 1996-2002. There were 40 journals issued between 1995 and 2002. Every other month a different topic was discussed. Each issue is in an 8 1/2″ x 11″ booklet format with 14-16 pages printed on heavy stock. Click here for more info, including the Subject Index.

✽ Berney,Esther: A Collector's Guide To Pressing Irons & Trivets, 1977. There is an entire chapter devoted entirely to trivets. 

Deeley, Robert with Andrew Crawforth & David Pearsall: The Cauldron, The Spit & The Fire, 2011. Includes several pages illustrating 18th and 19th century trivets and footmen.

✽ Hankenson, Dick: Trivets Book 1 and Trivets Book 2, 1972. Dick Hankenson’s books were the first pertaining exclusively to trivets. He comments on rarity and value from a 1970s perspective.

✽ Kelly, Rob Roy and Ellwood, James: A Collector's Guide To Trivets & Stands, 1990.  This book contains information on foundries and casting, trivet makers and distributors, trivet designs, and how to date a trivet. There are nearly thirteen hundred trivets pictured, along with notes on dimensions, markings, availability, and value. 

✽ Mitchell, Hazel: British Iron Stands (1991). This spiral bound book was assembled for the 8^th International Congress of Iron Collectors in Bath, England. Only 100 numbered copies of this work were published, so finding a copy can be challenging.

✽ Politzer, Judy: Tuesday's Children (1977) and Early Tuesday Morning (1986). Politzer’s two books are packed with information on toy-sized irons and their matching trivets. FYI: Tuesday's Children is sold in the PITCA Store.

✽ Rosack, Margaret Lynn: The A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets, 2004 and The Expanded A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets, 2010. The first book contains introductory information and presents the more commonly found trivets. The second book expands on the first book, intrducing a wider variety of trivets.

Slesin, Suzanne and Rozensztroch, Daniel: Everyday Things Wire, 1994. The history of wireware is discussed and both trivets and sadiron stands are illustrated.

Mangle Boards

✽ Raymond, Jay: Mangle Boards of Northern Europe, 2015. This is the long awaited, definitive text on mangle boards, featuring 267 boards presented in full color in a beautiful 12″ x 15″ coffee-table sized book. Jay's book is sold in the PITCA Store. See also the Mangle Board Exhibit video.

Sprinkler Bottles

✽ Bercovici, Bryson and Gilham: Collectibles for the Kitchen, Bath and Beyond, 2nd Edition, 2001. This book contains a 22 page illustrated chapter detailing the most collectible ceramic, plastic and glass sprinkler bottles. (1998 1st Edition in Library.)

Cheadle, Dave: Victorian Trade Cards, 1996. Collector Books. Includes 2 pages on Enterprise and Mrs. Potts Sad Irons.

Giacomini, Mary Jane: American Bisque Collectors Guide with Prices, 2015. Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Several sprinkler bottles are documented on pp. 140-141.

Historical Society of York County: Pfaltzgraff, America’s Potter, 1989. York Graphic Services, Inc. Information on the Myrtle laundry sprinkler appears on pp. 65-66.

Kopish, Donna: Mother in the Kitchen: The Beautiful Lady, 1994. R.L.K. Industries. At 62 pages, this is the first of two references on the Enesco line of Mother in the Kitchen (aka Prayer Lady) ceramic giftware. 

Kopish, Donna: Mother in the Kitchen and Other Prayer Pieces, 2000. R.L.K. Industries. At 98 pages, this updated version includes more images and information.

Stahmer, Deborah: Mother in the Kitchen, The Collector’s Guide to Prayer Ladies, 2007. 4th Edition, Print on Demand by Blurb, Inc. in softcover or hardcover. This book is now the definitive reference on Mother in the Kitchen giftware.

Washing Machines & Laundry Tools

✽ Maxwell, Lee: Save Women's Lives, 2003. The first and only book containing a comprehensive history of washing machines. See also the Maxwell Washing Machine video.