Several other electric ironing products even dispensed with the need for the traditional ironing board. These appeared from the mid-1930s onwards and were the modern equivalent of the pre-electric ironing gadgets used in large Victorian households for different types of clothing. One ironing product originating from the USA and dating from around 1935 was the lightweight trouser presser, ideal for travelling and able to be plugged in to any lighting socket. One type consisted of a wooden handle and two alloy blades, hinged on a heated rod, whereas another had smaller, fixed blades in a V-shape. Both claimed the ability to quickly produce a knife-edge crease in trousers or pleated skirts although, in practice, they were trickier to use than their instructions leaflets suggested. Another product was the electric tie-press, again originating from a 1930s American manufacturer. This resembled a long dagger, in aluminium, with a Bakelite handle, the blade of which was inserted into the wide, visible end of the tie. Advertising and packaging of these non-essential ironing products suggests that they were generally bought and sold as gifts.

• 1932 Empire (USA)
• 1935 Empire (UK)
• 1948 Clem
• 1950 Pifco trouser presser
• 1955 Pifco tie presser
• 1960 Pifco trouser presser

1932 Empire USA, Minnesota Produced in USA from c1932, then UK from c1935 under same name. Nickel-plated pressed steel blades, hinged around central heated rod, separated by pressing on thumb tab (small, red phenol plastic). Heat produced by tiny nichrome element. Black wooden handle of varying lengths and profiles. US patent number 1889432 - late 1932. Typical 1930s electric 'new-fangled gadget'.
1935 Empire UK Manufactured in UK from c1935 under original US name. Probably due to economic changes post-Gold Standard, UK 1932. Nickel-plated pressed steel blades hinged around central heated rod, separated by pressing on thumb tab (large, red/black phenol plastic). Reversed from earlier US version. Heat produced by tiny nichrome element. Black wooden handle of varying lengths. Similar types produced by Pifco (probably developed from the same model) and Falks. Small detail variations. Click to see pages 1 2 of user's instruction leaflet.
c1948 Clayton, Lewis and Miller (Clem) UK Glamorgan Trouser press of different principle to Empire/Pifco hinged blade type. Fixed V-profile twin blade. Identical brown phenol plastic casing screwed to either side with decorative shell/sunray design.
c1950 Pifco model 1111 UK Manchester Post-war Pifco version of earlier Empire press with two-part black phenol plastic handle. Produced until mid-60s, later versions have more angled blades. Lighter, due to use of aluminium for central heating rod, and slightly smaller than original Empire versions, not as high standard of production. 'For a knife edged crease'.
1955 Pifco model 1121 UK Manchester Lightweight, sword-like shape with aluminium 'blade' which inserts into tie and black phenol plastic handle. Short life-span; produced 1955-c1960. Possibly developed from early-30s US press of similar design. Registered design number 878,608 (1955).
c1960 Pifco model 1111 UK Manchester Re-designed version of earlier model 1111 - two-part maroon phenol plastic handle and more exaggerated angled blades. More luxurious gold-printed packaging and instructions. Click here for packaging