America 250 Candidate: Electric Flatiron
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AUTOMATION HISTORY · AMERICA 250 · REPLACEMENT CANDIDATE
Electric Flatiron
American milestone: 1882 · Henry W. Seely · New York
Status: Replacement candidate. Final number pending chronology audit.
Why it belongs in America 250
Henry W. Seely patented an electric flatiron in the United States in 1882. His design used electrical resistance to heat the working face rather than requiring the iron to be reheated on a stove.
Connection to automation
Electric heating brought controlled energy directly into a common tool and helped establish the broader transition toward electrically powered household processes.