1960 Goblin Teasmade D25b

In January 1960 Goblin was assessing redesign ideas for the D25. The goal was to achieve a design which incorporated a new style of kettle, a new platform mechanism along the lines of the D26 or an improved modification of this, and a new and less expensive clock movement.

A design by Miles Aircraft was discarded in January 1960 because it had a poorly designed clock case and position, and offered little improvement on the original D25. Within the year, however, the Goblin D25b introduced. It was the first model made at Goblin’s Leatherhead works.

Despite all the debate, the D25b was very similar in appearance to the D25, with only cosmetic changes. The clock chapter ring was now gold or brown, with black hands. The platform featured a small lip, designed to stop the teapot from slipping off. The teapot remained on the left. The wiring remained with a two pin kettle socket with an external earth.

A deluxe Queen Anne version was also introduced as a gift set, including a stainless steel circular teapot and a bone china tea service.

Production of the D25b ended in 1967, when it was replaced by the D25c.

The red Goblin logo was dropped from the case front in around 1964.

Doug has a D25b with a receipt dated 1961. He writes:

"The D25b is similar to the D25 but it has plain clock hands and the orange/red goblin logo is dropped from later models. The clock cannot start in reverse. The teapot is the same, and there is a small lip on the teapot side of the platform. The kettle has conical screw feet. It is still on the right, but the transfer tube is attached with a knurled nut and the flat plug lead now has a twin external earth.

"I have two D25b Teasmades and they each have an early & late type clock cover. The early type - smooth edge, bulbous shape is fitted on model no. 305941 and the later type - flat edge with slightly pointed centre is fitted on model no. 321518. So the change occurred some time during the 15577 models produced. If your serial no. is smaller or greater you will know which type to use, otherwise it is a guess. I think they are interchangeable.

"One weekend in 2002 I went to a boot fair (every Sunday on  6 floors of a multi - storey car park) and spotted a Goblin teapot and old box. On looking inside it was a D25b, complete but very shabby. The asking price was £5 but reduced to £4 due to broken teapot spout (it still pours). I snapped it up at once. I think it was unused for many years and stored in a shed. It was dirty and damp, the insides had cobwebs & dead insects etc. The leads had been gnawed. However a good clean up and sympathetic rewire using cloth covered flex from an old iron and it's back to its former glory. Kettle descaled and teapot bleached - time to plug in.

"I must admit the two switch system had me puzzled for a while - I thought the element had failed. However I got it in the end:

Both up = off
Both down = on alarm mode
LH down RH up = tea now (when contacts closed)
LH up RH down = lights on

"As the lights are common wired over both switches, it is possible to have 'tea now' (when alarm contacts closed) which puts the lights on, then switch them off with the rh switch. A feature not available on later models. This is because the D20 series does not have a separate 'tea now' circuit which bypasses the alarm, unlike later models. The alarm contacts close about 12 minutes before the alarm setting and remain closed for approximately 40 minutes after. If the Teasmade is set up but not switched on (everybody does this occasionally!) then switching on during the times shown will activate the kettle circuit. However, once the alarm contacts have reset open, then switching on will only cause the lights to come on. The alarm contacts will close again 12 hours later but once the water is discharged the kettle circuit is protected by the platform rocker switch and teapot sensor.

"Anyway....after much switching up & down the kettle started to warm up and 10 mins later - lights (orange) sounds - buzzzzzz and a nice cup of tea. It is now my pride and joy."