This iron was unique because the steel base could be put on the wood burning stove to get hot while the wooden handle was removed by lifting the knob below the handle releasing it from the base.  This allowed the user to iron with less discomfort that the flat iron that had attached handles that were made of steel causing the handle to become as hot as the base.  This sad iron was manufactured by Blessing & Drake in Newark, NJ.  The 1897 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog offered a set of three different weight sad irons for fifty-nine cents. A set of nickel plated sad irons sold for sixty-four cents.  Extra handles could be had for eight cents each.