Tecal Teasmade - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Viscount · 2nd Mar 2021, 4:18 pm

Purchased this Tecal machine recently, described as being tatty, and on arrival it really was. First thing was to totally dismantle the unit. The base plate was badly rusted as was the kettle tilt mechanism and kettle stand. These were de-rusted and given coats of primer and top coat. The mains lead was totally disintegrated so was changed for a suitable replacement.
Next was to test the clock which was found to be fine. Oddly enough the internal mechanism was like new, which was a bonus.
Before re-assembly all switches were checked and tilt contacts cleaned.
Finally polished as best as I could, there is some corrosion on the top but doesn't affect use. Kettle element checked out ok but is left disconnected for safety reasons. An interesting project and well worth the effort. Looks quite at home among the 40 odd vintage radios I have. Many thanks for reading and thanks to Andy (bionic merlin) for supplying the item.

Beardyman · 3rd Mar 2021, 7:56 am

I can see a lot of effort went into rescuing it, well done indeed. It's cleaned up amazingly well, I do like the pressure cooker kettle! Excellent job.

Nickthedentist · 3rd Mar 2021, 8:07 am

That's beautiful, well done on your restoration.

Those must be quite rare. I've certainly not seen one in the flesh.

N.

Kentode · 3rd Mar 2021, 12:04 pm

Nicely done! Coincidentally, I've just spotted this in "The Bliss of Mrs Blossom" currently showing on TPTV.

Not the same model but a relation...

Rubberfingers · 3rd Mar 2021, 1:56 pm

The Film "The Firechasers" from 1971 was on TPTV a few weeks ago as well, in which Teamakers were put to a less conventional use! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065722/ The film is also on Youtube.

bionicmerlin · 4th Mar 2021, 2:08 am

Looks great Tony. Thanks for the write up. You certainly got that all fixed up in record time. Almost wish I kept it. Maybe not I got far to much Andy

vinrads · 4th Mar 2021, 5:41 pm

Excellent restoration , mine's a coffee I used to drink tea first thing but now it makes me feel queasy, so it's coffee for me , later on after a bacon sandwich no problem . cheers Mick.

2nd Mar 2021, 4:18 pm	#1
Viscount Hexode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK. Posts: 383	Tecal Teasmade Purchased this Tecal machine recently, described as being tatty, and on arrival it really was. First thing was to totally dismantle the unit. The base plate was badly rusted as was the kettle tilt mechanism and kettle stand. These were de-rusted and given coats of primer and top coat. The mains lead was totally disintegrated so was changed for a suitable replacement. Next was to test the clock which was found to be fine. Oddly enough the internal mechanism was like new, which was a bonus. Before re-assembly all switches were checked and tilt contacts cleaned. Finally polished as best as I could, there is some corrosion on the top but doesn't affect use. Kettle element checked out ok but is left disconnected for safety reasons. An interesting project and well worth the effort. Looks quite at home among the 40 odd vintage radios I have. Many thanks for reading and thanks to Andy (bionic merlin) for supplying the item. Attached Thumbnails

3rd Mar 2021, 7:56 am	#2
Beardyman Hexode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 300	Re: Tecal Teasmade I can see a lot of effort went into rescuing it, well done indeed. It's cleaned up amazingly well, I do like the pressure cooker kettle! Excellent job. __________________ The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. (Einstein)

3rd Mar 2021, 8:07 am	#3
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 15,460	Re: Tecal Teasmade That's beautiful, well done on your restoration. Those must be quite rare. I've certainly not seen one in the flesh. N.

3rd Mar 2021, 12:04 pm	#4
Kentode Heptode Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Todmorden, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 633	Re: Tecal Teasmade Nicely done! Coincidentally, I've just spotted this in "The Bliss of Mrs Blossom" currently showing on TPTV. Not the same model but a relation... Attached Thumbnails __________________ Regards, Ken. BVWS member

3rd Mar 2021, 1:56 pm	#5
Rubberfingers Pentode Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Dorset, UK. Posts: 205	Re: Tecal Teasmade The Film "The Firechasers" from 1971 was on TPTV a few weeks ago as well, in which Teamakers were put to a less conventional use! https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065722/ The film is also on Youtube.

4th Mar 2021, 2:08 am	#6
bionicmerlin Hexode Join Date: May 2010 Location: Warminster, Wiltshire, UK. Posts: 374	Re: Tecal Teasmade Looks great Tony. Thanks for the write up. You certainly got that all fixed up in record time. Almost wish I kept it. Maybe not I got far to much Andy __________________ I bet that car doesn't have a suppressor.

4th Mar 2021, 5:41 pm	#7
vinrads Nonode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 2,742	Re: Tecal Teasmade Excellent restoration , mine's a coffee I used to drink tea first thing but now it makes me feel queasy, so it's coffee for me , later on after a bacon sandwich no problem . cheers Mick.