Swan Brand

Swan Brand was originally a brand of Bulpitt and Sons, who were well established kettle manufacturers. In the early 1920s competition was fierce among kettle manufacturers, who were all trying to achieve rapid boiling times. This led to placing the element inside the water compartment. In 1922 Swan marketed the first kettle of this new design, the element being sheathed in a metal tube. Swan’s other early innovations included using the space inside the handle to hide a spare fuse.

Bulpitt’s in Birmingham also made Swan Brand teapot sets. Designs included the Carlton (Cromalin Ware), the Empire (Cromalin Ware), the Westbury, later used for the Goblin D25 Queen Anne models, Wikka Ware, featuring an engraved basketweave pattern, and Willo, featuring an engraved Willow Pattern. Bulpitt’s also made Swan Brand commemorative wares for the Coronation and the Festival of Britain. They also made jelly moulds including the ‘Jellette’ and some charming rabbit shaped moulds.

In the early 1970s Bulpitt and Son were taken over by the BSR group (Birmingham Sound Reproducers), an electronics company famous for their record players. BSR also took over Judge, a pots and pans manufacturer. The combined operation became known as BSR Housewares, with Swan Brand as a subsidiary operation.

At the same time BSR bought Goblin BVC. BSR originally made public address equipment (certainly in the 1940s and 1950s), it was only by the 1950s that they got into record turntables, particularly their “Monarch” range. Goblin BVC were also into P.A. (according to one of their recruitment advertisements in early 1970s “Wireless World” magazines). Perhaps that is why BSR were interested in the company.

The Teasmade trademark thus passed from Goblin into the hands of Swan Housewares. For a while, Swan were to be the only company making teasmades in the UK. During the crossover period some teasmades were issued with the Swan badge, but with the tea pot and kettle still marked with the Goblin name.

In July 2023 Swan was acquired by Staffordshire based RKW, the trading division of the family-owned Sutton Venture Group (SVG).