An English Icon?

I nominated the Teasmade as an ICON of England in April 2006. This website was the first project of ICONS Online, a not-for-profit organisation whose aim was to provide stimulating interactive ways of exploring different cultural landscapes. ICONS really captured people’s imaginations and they received literally thousands of nominations. You could pop along to the Icons website and vote for your favourite icon, including the teasmade. Although you cannot nominate or vote any more, you can still browse through a vast array of wonderful and quirky suggestions. The Teasmade was number 694 of 1160 nominations that made the grade. Here is my nomination application:

The electric Teasmade could only have been made in Britain, the spiritual home of tea and the birthplace of many a quirky invention. It represents the very best in national idiosyncrasy, making a simple cup of tea by the most complex method imaginable. It has an impeccable English pedigree. It was first manufactured in a garage behind a semi in Hayes in 1932, an age when the vogue was to replace the servant with domestic appliances. Yet it is hardly a labour saving device. The user simply exchanges early morning convenience for the chore of late night preparations. In operation it recklessly combines high voltage electricity and steam while it creates a glorious spluttering, gurgling cacophony supplemented (as if it were needed) with a raucous alarm buzzer. In its heyday it was the classic wedding present, retirement gift and game show prize (remember the conveyor belt?)