Curling irons such as these were popular for home hairstyling during World War II (WWII). Women placed the iron on the stove to heat up and then wrapped their hair around the iron to produce curls. Crimping irons were also used to produce wavy hair. This iron belonged to Reba Robertson, late of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. Reba was an air raid warden during the war. Her duties included enforcing blackout conditions and climbing up city lamposts to put out gaslights.