These are a few of my favourite things #1

Although the Electricity Gallery is lined up for a refurb, it still reveals some absolute gems to the visitors today! Here are just 2 of them, in time for the weekend…

Toaster: c1937, with hinged sides that dropped down for inserting the bread. As the heating elements were in the centre, only one side of each slice could be toasted at a time. To add to the trauma, it had no heat control or timer either. Toasters were initially advertised as a handy appliance for producing fresh toast right at the dining table – just the thing to impress your guests.  But it was somewhat of an art to produce the perfect slice.

The electric toaster was invented in 1893, however the heating elements of this time used iron resistance wire, which was prone to become rusty and brittle. The development of a new metal compound, Nichrome, solved these problems and allowed companies to develop it into what we know (and love) today.

Keeping with a kitchen theme, this sink-top electric dishwasher was made by Electrolux Ltd in 1951. The original owner bought it after seeing one displayed as an example of well-designed British products at the 1951 Festival of Britain. Dishwashers were very rare in British homes at this time, but the lightweight sink-top models were more affordable than the larger floor-standing models. Ownership of dishwashers increased from only 2% of British homes in 1973 to more than 33% in 2006!