date please and where?

[IgorStrav]

I think Tony is right, and the kettles in the front of the window could be electric, with little legs.

Agree looks like the kettle about halfway down the page of Tony's link with the following description:

1910 GEC “Magnet” CAPTAIN kettle model H3616. from an advert titled “Table cooking by electricity” GEC “Magnet” System. Available in 2pt at 24/- or 3pt at 30/-, the 2pt kettle boiled in 12 minutes and the 3pt in 14 minutes. Made of copper and with replaceable elements, they are advertised at “exceptionally” low prices.


So I'm wondering about 1910-12?
                 

[2Harriet]

Hi.
I am not seeing any connector for flex on the Kettles? The "legs" particularly on the left kettle look more like a trivet [metal strips radiating from the centre] which forms part of the ? paraffin stove underneath.

[IgorStrav]

Argh.  See what you mean.  The things underneath the kettles seem to have big handles, hanging down, which would fit with your paraffin stove hypothesis.

Not clear from Tony's web page whether the kettles in question had a permanent flex or not, but they probably did?  I've been thinking of a modern electric kettle, where you can remove the whole thing from the electrical supply.

[Lynntony]

Not clear from Tony's web page whether the kettles in question had a permanent flex or not, but they probably did?  I've been thinking of a modern electric kettle, where you can remove the whole thing from the electrical supply.

From what I can see Igor the flex was removable.

According to the diagrams on the oldelectrickettle site, the flex adjoined the kettle underneath the centre or back of the kettle.This would necessitate the provision of legs on the kettles. I would concede however that 4 shillings and 6 pence would be extraordinarily cheap for an electic kettle

The objects underneath the kettles in the picture seem to have, upon close examination, particularly the one on the left of the window, a slot opening, which I would not think to find on a paraffin heater. I would also think that a paraffin heater would not be a particularly efficent way to boil a kettle. Even today's non-electric kettles require the heat source to be in direct contact with the base of the kettle. Perhaps they were just a convenient way of displaying the kettles?

The fact remains that, whether they are electric or not, this would not adversely affect the dating of the picture as electric kettles were available as early as the turn of the century.

Tony

[2Harriet]

Hi,

Thanks for the discussion folks, very helpful.

Carlisle archives are still closed however, their Historical Research Service www.cumbria.gov.uk/archives/research has exclusive access to the collections during the closure period and I will need to commision someone to research for me. Will let you know the outcome.

[Borley Manor]

Well good luck, don't give up, stick with it.....

[maidmarianoops]

 Gillette produced the first safety razors and disposable blades in 1903



a little bit more to add to the puzzle


sylvia

[ScouseBoy]

When I visited TNA at Kew  I could access old telephone directories  ( 1940s )   on their  computers.

Maybe Carlisle Central Archives or Library holds old phone directories.   Or Census  from 1911 maybe.

[Borley Manor]

The plot thickens, I have some single edged razor blades from my Paternal grandfathers souveniers, and the packet has 1912 on it, each blade individually wrapped in some greasy paper. He used these every day, in a bone handled razor (make unknown) since he married in 1911 apparently. Why I know this minutae I have no idea, but, it's just something I remember from my childhood. He kept all this stuff in a small cupboard in the bottom of a pendulum powered clock in the bathroom....again why do I need to know this?