A British invention of the 1930s was the automatic tea maker or 'teasmade' which was developed by the British Vacuum Cleaner company ('Goblin') and first marketed in 1936. Within a couple of years, similar early morning tea machines appeared, although all versions operated in the same way: the alarm on the clock was set and when reached, an electric element in the kettle was switched on to heat the water. The pressure of the boiling water made it decant through a tube in the kettle lid into an adjacent tea or coffee pot, making the whole unit pivot forward and activating the light and buzzer alarm. Thus the sleeper awoke to a freshly brewed pot of tea!

The 'teasmade' was a prime example of the 'servant replacement' function of many electrical appliances, as it took on the task of the early morning maid, her first responsibility being to supply a welcome cup of tea. Some very lavish versions were produced on large trays, with matching teapots and crockery sets. The 'teasmade' was one of the few gadgets of the period to have survived, creating its own market and developing into a recognised household appliance.

• 1952 Hawkins Tecal
• 1953 Russell Hobbs
• 1955 Goblin Teasmade D25
• 1955 Goblin Teasmade D26
• 1955 Hawkins
• 1963 Goblin Teasmade 833

c1952 Hawkins Tecal UK Hastings Second generation Tecal tea-maker (first introduced c1936). Layout similar to Goblin model D26. Full-width square clock on plinth, in front of round kettle, pleated vinyl shade on light bulb. Ivory enamel finish, chromium-plated kettle. More basic model, 'Tiffee', without clock or light introduced 1952. Patent number 661,061, applied for 1949.
c1953 Russell Hobbs Tea Maker model TM1 UK Croyden Automatic tea-making equivalent of Russell Hobbs model CP1. Neat stacked design, effectively an electric tea pot: dark grey tea pot (possibly Hornsea design), separate chromium- plated heating chamber with black phenol plastic insert for connector and switch. Later decorative version on cream-glazed background, also available with matching creamer and sugar bowl.
c1955 Goblin Teasmade model D25 UK Leatherhead Third generation 'teasmade' (first introduced 1936) with side lamps, clock and curved tray. Replaced model D21. Cream urea plastic body, matching cream melamine tray, translucent ribbed acrylic lamp covers, square chrome kettle and square ceramic teapot. Water heats up at pre-set time and decants into teapot when boiling, tipping kettle/teapot plinth and activating alarm. Includes patent 571,849, applied for 1944.
c1955 Goblin Teasmade model D26 UK Leatherhead Minimal version of Goblin model D25. Similar in layout to Hawkins'Tecal' with kettle behind clock, no tray or tea pot. Cream urea plastic body/base, square chromium-plated kettle, black phenol plastic fittings, no shade or light bulb supplied. Includes patent 571,849, applied for 1944. Rare, earlier version with cream stove-enamelled, die-cast alloy body of simpler design.
c1955 Hawkins Classic UK Hastings Compact and elegant tea maker. Black stove-enameled base with three equal height units in matt/brushed chrome-plated brass - clock with black face, two rectangular canisters for kettle and teapot. Semi-circular chrome-plated tube arches from kettle to pot. Angular black phenol plastic handles and lid knobs. Stylistically orphaned - geometric style looks Art Deco/Modernist but materials/finish are too late, but too early for 1970s high tech aesthetic.
c1963 Goblin Teasmade model 833 UK Leatherhead Replacement for model D26 with many refinements. New, crisp styling in white plastic with integrated translucent acrylic lamp unit. Brushed aluminium clock, fascia and lamp top. Chrome-plated copper kettle of new design. Switches for light, tea-making and alarm set all on front. Other versions in beige and incorporating tea-pots. Literature printed 1963.