Mr West, a cleaning supplies manager, said it still gets creases out of clothes “brilliantly”, which he thinks is due to its solid manufacturing.

‘Very retro’ – but it does the job

“It is very well built and much heavier as well,” he said.

“It goes far hotter than the modern irons. It has a very hot setting that does linen especially far better than the newer ones.”

Mr West is trying to work out the exact date his grandmother, who passed away in 2000 aged 89, bought it.

“My mum is still alive and she can definitely remember her having it in the 1950s,” he said.

“I also genuinely like the look. It is very retro with old style colours, a muted green they had on motor cars at that point. It is not something I would ever give away. I was told the science museum might be interested but haven’t heard back from them.

“My grandmother would be pleased that I have looked after it and it has come to some attention. I was brought up that you just don’t waste things or throw them out if there is nothing wrong with them.

“Things were built to last back then. I still have the same saucepans I bought 30 years ago as well. If you buy decent stuff, then it lasts.”