1970 Goblin Teasmade 835

The first 835 production model came off the line in June 1970, and the new model was officially launched in October 1970. (Date confirmed via Goblin Leatherhead records). The 835 was given a substantial face-lift, with fashionable squared styling, and new side lights with white plastic angular covers, but it retained the same clock and movement as the outgoing D25d and the more recent 834. The detachable tray at the front of the unit was a new feature, designed to carry the cups and teapot up and down stairs. Features advertised on promotional materials included:

• Long life kettle, chrome on real copper.
• Insulated kettle handle and lid. No burnt fingers.
• Water-level indicator. No overfilling.
• Safety switches. Even half asleep, you can’t switch on a dry kettle, or operate with teapot and kettle out of place.
• Luminous hour and minute hands in case you can’t sleep.
• Bedside lights switch off independently in case you can sleep.
• Glazed earthenware teapot for proper-tasting British tea.
• Master switch for choosing between OFF, LIGHT, AUTO, or tea now.
• Buzzer volume control. Varies from a whisper (for light sleepers only), to something quite loud but kindly.

Here’s an advert featuring the Goblin 835. The tag line is “Goblin Teasmade. The next best thing to sleeping.”

The rotary switch with ‘Tea Now’ was patented on the 8th June 1969 as was the fitted tray. The purpose of the neon light was to indicate that ‘Tea Now’ had been selected. It was soon realised that this was unnecessary and the feature was dropped on the b and c models. It also had a variable volume buzzer which was later dropped from 835c units with a serial number of 206617 or later. Doug writes:

“My favourite traditional Teasmade. Has three features dropped on later models. Sweep second hand, buzzer control and neon lamp. On my second visit to a Boot Fair I spotted a forlorn Goblin Teasmade with no tray or kettle. On asking the price I was told £2 – I said ‘I don’t suppose you have the kettle?’ the seller looked around saying ‘Well, it was here earlier on, if you still want it give us a quid.’ So I bought an 835 in dirty but good condition with stain -free teapot. On getting it home I cleaned it up, used my 855 kettle & tray and tested it – works perfectly – what a bargain. Pity about the kettle, just have to keep looking. It has a neon light which illuminates when the alarm sounds but is completely superfluous, what with buzzers, side lights and boiling water. However I have long thought that a useful addition to any automatic tea maker would be a tell-tale light to prove the kettle circuit had been switched in, so I intend to rewire it to do just that. A de-luxe model indeed.”