Blast from the Past: Teasmade

A Teasmade was a bedside contraption, that sat atop one’s bedside cabinet, and worked not only as an alarm clock but also brewed a cup of tea, coordinated to the precise hour of your waking.
A vintage TeasmadeA vintage Teasmade
A vintage Teasmade
By Helen McGurk
Published 1st Sep 2023, 09:40 BST
Updated 1st Sep 2023, 10:09 BST

Teasmades were as much a part of 1970s suburbia as the Austin Allegro –and considered the greatest advancement in civilisation since sliced bread.

Television couples like George and Mildred had one. Terry and June had one. They were given away on a weekly basis on Bruce Forsyth's Generation Game and by Jim Bowen on Bullseye, and were the de rigeur wedding gift.

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This great labour-saving device combined an alarm clock with a kettle, meaning owners could wake up each morning to a fresh cup of tea without having to leave the comfort of their bed and their electric blanket.

But alas, like all great inventions the Teasmade and automatic bedside tea production fell on hard times, usurped no doubt, by fancy cappuccino and espresso makers.

And many believe Norma Major sounded its death knell when she unwisely disclosed it was a piece of apparatus that graced the Prime Ministerial bedroom when she was living at No. 10.

They may be a bit naff, but wouldn’t we all wake up better knowing the tea’s been made?