1910 Cona Coffee Machine
I don't usually feature a tea maker which doesn't have an alarm function, but I think the Cona Coffee Machine deserves a spot, because it is a British invention, and has had such a long and illustrious history.
"But it's a coffee machine," I hear you say.
Ahhh... that may be so, but I have a small instruction leaflet (probably 1950s) which promotes using the Cona for tea. You can find this in the 'Manuals' collection on this website.
The advertisement below is the earliest I have found in which the partnership with the Tea Bureau is mentioned. The advert also mentions 'Kitchen Models' which are referenced in the instruction leaflet.
A new model, the Cona Rex, went into production in 1953. Then from 1962, the iconic 8-cup 'Table Model Size D' was continuously manufactured at the Cona Ltd Works in Wimbledon. On 1st July 2017 Cona Ltd transferred its Cona activity to A. Gezang & Co BV, its long established Dutch/Belgian importer.
You can find out about the history of Cona Coffee Machines at the Dutch factory's website, and you'll notice that they still recommend the Cona for brewing tea!
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