1947 Goblin Teasmade D20

Goblin produced no teasmades during the war years. Manufacturing recommenced in 1947 with their second full production  model, the Goblin D20, a fabulous design with styling reminiscent of the Art Deco period. We believe that about 7000 D20 units were manufactured each year until the D20 was replaced by the D21 in 1949.   

This was the first D series teasmade model. We cannot be certain why the prefix D was chosen, but Doug theorises that the letter D was the last letter of LeatherheaD and was used to distinguish products made in Surrey from those made in their other factories. It is an established pattern that few manufacturers start their model series at No 1, in order to allay customer resistance. The same logic applies to serial numbers, thus Doug believes the earliest D20 produced was serial number 1001, and that subsequent numbers were applied in ascending order.

The D20 had a plywood body, covered in cream coloured textured paint. The matching tray was also made of painted wood, but the underside was not painted. Owners sometimes painted or wallpapered their D20 to match their bedroom decor!

The D20 had a centrally mounted wooden platform at the rear for the kettle and teapot. The clock was square and was mounted on a fascia with fluted, curved light covers to the left and right of the clock, and switches beneath the clock. Settings for the clock hands and the alarm were at the back of the unit.

The teapot supplied for the early models was a very neat cube shape, without the projecting spout and handle of later models. Significantly the teapot was mounted on the left hand side of the teasmade, an awkward feature, which irritated users for about 20 years, and was never seen again on another model.

Doug Fennell acquired an early model whose original owner must have been a true Teasmaniac. According to his grandson who sold it, it was used daily up to his death in 1977. A pilot in the RAF, he even took it abroad with him. It had certainly been well used. When Doug got it going, he was puzzled that a weak tea mixture came out of the teapot before he had put a teabag in it. After flushing the teasmade out many times eventually a lot of old tea-leaves were dislodged from behind the built in strainer of the cube teapot. They must have been there for over 25 years!

In 1949, which we believe was the last year of production for this model, the D20 retailed for £11.0s, or £12.5s with an optional tray.

See also Operating Instructions for D20, D21 and D25.