Here we have one of those once-commonplace, now-mysterious household tools: a fluting iron. This little (9” tall) machine was used to make and launder clothing, specifically fluted trimmings, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
A wide variety of fluting irons, or fluters, was manufactured. Some were ‘rocker’ style; others, like this one, operated with a crank. All were improvements over the earlier method of pressing pleats into fabric, which involved wrapping each individual crease by hand around a goffering iron. Ladies’ and children’s clothing of the late 19th century featured a lot of pleated (also known as fluted or plaited) trim, probably the impetus for the invention of an easier way to create and care for your ruffles and ruches.
Our model here was invented by a Mrs. Susan R. Knox, patented by her on November 20, 1866, and manufactured by H. Sauerbier & Son, Newark, NJ. In case you forget those facts, they’re written on the base. The machine is iron, with brass rollers and a wooden handle. Here is a description of the device, taken from her patent (“Improvement in Fluting Machines,” No. 59,913):
“This invention relates to a machine having a pair of corrugated rollers, between which the fabric or material to be fluted is drawn by the rotation of said rollers, the fluting effect, as well as the simultaneous rotation of the rollers in opposite directions, being caused by the intermeshing of the corrugations of one roller with the corresponding grooves of the other. These rollers are made hollow in order to heat them by the introduction of heating-irons or otherwise, and thus render the fabric more susceptible to the fluting action of the rollers.”
The machine was donated to the Historical Society in 1962 by Mrs. Josiah Waters (Margaret Elgar Sherman) Jones. Though no specific stories were shared about this artifact, many of the pieces donated by Mrs. Jones were from her husband’s family’s home, The Briers, in Olney, and this fluting iron was likely used there.
Bonus! Here’s another fluting machine from our collections. This one is, sadly, missing its bottom roller, but it has a decorative paint job and a few extra ‘conveniences’ (a table clamp that swivels up and out of the way; a lever to keep the top roller from flipping up by mistake) so I thought I’d throw it in. This one is a Crown, patented in 1875 and manufactured by the American Machine Company of Philadelphia; a similar model can be found in the 1902 Sears, Roebuck catalog, for $3.25 (including “four heaters and a pair of tongs”). It was donated to us in 1962 (a good – indeed, the only – year for fluters here at MCHS) by Mrs. Henry H. Griffith. Again, nothing specific was shared about this item, but much of Mrs. Griffith’s donation came from her husband’s family’s home, Crows Content in Laytonsville.
Above: “side plaiting” trim at the hem of Isabella Snowden Stabler’s wedding gown, worn in Sandy Spring in 1884. For more examples, try an internet image search for 1870s or 1880s fashion plates. This site has photos of many other fluting machines, both crank-operated and rockers.

The inspiration for today’s post: Our copier decided to try a little fluting-machine action of its own, crimping all our papers. (It’s fixed now, don’t worry.)
February 8, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Great to see a patent awarded to a woman! I hope she made some money.
February 8, 2012 at 4:28 pm
If I had one of these, I’d be crimping, pleating, fluting and plaiting everything I saw. It looks like it would be fun to use.
February 10, 2012 at 5:59 am
It’s interesting to see a household item that was once so commonplace become something mysterious! I like how household tools were also so decorative. You don’t see that today!
February 10, 2012 at 10:23 am
I know, I love the things that have that little bit of decorative flair. I guess it’s a little like buying a bright red washing machine today? But you don’t typically see scrollwork or gilding on microwaves or ironing boards anymore, which is too bad.
February 15, 2012 at 4:40 pm
[…] Last week we featured an artifact from The Briers, an estate in Olney. The Briers – originally called Silent Retreat – was built in 1854, and was situated off Route 108 (see map at bottom of post). The owner, Josiah Waters Jones, Sr. (1810-1896), was a prosperous farmer; the 1860 census shows that his real estate at that time was worth $10,000 and his personal property worth $20,000. He did not marry until 1864, so the 1860 census shows him alone in his household. […]
April 17, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Hi Im so glad I found this blog!! I just purchased a fluting rolling iron and would like to know how to use it…could you tell me maybe do i need to somehow heat it up, or how to use ? I was hoping to use it but obviously something from the 1800’s does not have instructions!! haha thank you…Leah
April 18, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Well, unfortunately none of ours came with instructions! If you have the heating irons (we don’t), and a fireplace, you could give it a go; otherwise, you might have to get creative. I tried ‘fluting’ a piece of cotton sheet with ours – cold – and ended up with only a mildly-crinkled sheet. Good luck!
May 5, 2012 at 12:36 am
I ended up buying an iron rod at the hardware store, heated it up on the stove, and placed them inside. I dipped the fabric in starch water and it worked!!!!!
May 5, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Great! What fun – I hope you have lots of fluted collars and cuffs now. Thanks for keeping us updated; maybe someday we’ll give one of ours a try!
May 7, 2012 at 2:52 pm
I have a hand held Fluter PAT.D AUGUST 21.1866 (on very bottom) on the hand held part it has on the handle (very top) GENEVA. ILL on the top of the rolling part it has CENEVA HAND on one half the bottom half says FLUTER if any one could tell me what it may be worth could you please let me know. I do not want to sell it but I am intrested in how much it is worth. My aunt has had it for many many year’s, it was passed down from her husbands family for year’s and she did not keep anything that was not worth keeping. THANK YOU FOR ANY INFORMATION ANY ONE MAY HAVE.
July 8, 2012 at 6:43 am
Shirley-you can type in fluting iron on ebay and get some ideas of the price.
Leah-I would love to see some pictures of the items you fluted. I am researching mid-19th century life and find domestic life so interesting.
Fine Collector-Love your articles. Thanks!
July 30, 2012 at 1:42 pm
I just came across this site. Wow! I have a collection of fluting irons, varied styles, about 30+ of them that my mother and I collected. I have them displayed in my home. Always starts a discussion!
July 30, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Can you post some pictures of yours and can you flute some material and shows us some examples? Would love to see them!
September 22, 2012 at 10:48 am
We came upon this blog because my husband and I had never seen a fluting iron. However,my great grandfather invented and patented corrugated cardboard. He owned a paper company and was watching his wife ironing one day with a fluting iron – this gave him the idea for “fluted paper” boxes. People thought he was crazy until he filled his new cardboard box with jars of jam, went to his second story window, and threw it out. It hit the sidewalk, but nothing inside broke. Thought you might like to add this bit of trivia to your collection.
March 20, 2014 at 6:49 pm
As kids we played with my Grandmothers Fluting iron. We rolled paper through it all the time. Hours of great fun.
September 24, 2012 at 9:13 pm
[…] of fluting irons. This website was super informative about different types and their values. This one also has good pictures and information about fluting irons and their use. Essentially there are […]
June 13, 2014 at 9:47 am
I found an original knox fluting iron and think it’s very cool….unfortunately it is missing the bottom roller and I’m looking to find one. anyone know where I might be able to get my hands on one?
October 26, 2015 at 4:44 pm
Did anyone find a tutorial on using the fluter with the crank? If there are iron bars to heat it up in it, are they easily accessible? It pleats paper well. I tried it on ribbon, but no luck. I would appreciate any additional information!!!!
March 24, 2016 at 3:27 pm
I have an all original, The Original Knox fluting machine with all original parts as it came from the factory. Have had for awhile never knew exactly what it was or what it was used for until I ran across ur site. Would b wondering if u would b interested in purchasing or at least let me know what it would possibly be worth. I will leave u my name and email and if u r interested please contact me and I can send photos.
August 11, 2016 at 9:11 am
[…] Here’s another blog that talks about fluting irons, https://afinecollection.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/fluting-iron-1866/ […]