1988 Philips Two Cup Tea and Coffee Makers
Philips first became linked to the manufacture of automatic tea makers when it took over the Ekco Heating and Appliances business in Hastings in about 1977. However, I have been unable to trace any teasmade manufacturing activity. In about 1990 they began to produce two mug tea and coffee makers.
The Tea for Two HD5187, and a coffee version, the Café Duo HD5190, were introduced in 1988. Philips then produced the Tea for Two HD5192. An optional clock radio was available from 1988 as an add-on for either the Tea For Two or the Café Duo. The clock radio was a separate battery powered unit which clipped onto the base of the tea maker. Regrettably it did not switch on the tea maker, so even with the radio attached it didn’t quite classify as a teasmade.
Two later Philips models, the 7105 and the HD7140, also branded as the Cucina Duo, did not have a clock radio module.