GEC D5605A toaster, plus others. - Page 2 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Brian R Pateman · 19th Jul 2010, 12:25 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by dseymo1

Ah... I have an original (Ca 1948) Hawkins 'Electric Hostess' awaiting restoration - it's the predecessor to the 70s hostess trolleys, so I imagine that Hawkins were taken over by Ekco at some point. When I can get to it, I'll take a few pics and start a thread.

Hawkins was part of Pye from a very early stage. The Drury Lane address was the head office with manufacturing premises in Cambridge (I think).

So that does explain the later Ekco Hostess Trolley. Same animal with a different badge.

Ekco-Scott · 23rd Jul 2010, 1:38 am

I use my toaster evrey day the best toast i have ever had and done in no time its the same one you have.

Techman · 23rd Jul 2010, 10:42 pm

That is fantastic, Ekco-Scott!

I love that. Proper original mains lead like mine, too!

I think yours is in better condition than mine - plus, it works!

PS, some very interesting stuff being posted by everyone on this thread.

EF80TVVALVE · 15th Aug 2010, 5:40 pm

hi, I brought this old toaster at an auction for a staggering £5

I heard that vintage kitchen items are becoming collectable. I rewired it and it worked! Does anyone know about these, i only know that it was made by Premier, runs on 210v (apparently regular voltage for old toasters) and as CAT No 916 and its serial number is B8. I have it on everyday and it makes toast very well... and fast

does anyone know when they were made. it looks very 30's
thanks

chipp1968 · 16th Aug 2010, 8:29 am

Yes photo helps .
.Old toasters are very quick .I had to give up my murphy Richards pop up as it was constantly trapping toast and sometimes developed a fault where one panel lit up twice as bright and set fire to the toast !I retired it , but it was quick .Bought a modern one similar style .It was so slow i could walk the dog while waiting

so I gave it to Mum, and bought another one at higher wattage .Its just as bad

I now warm it up while getting stuff ready before adding bread !

Darren-UK · 16th Aug 2010, 11:15 am

You'll find some info, largely from myself, on Premier toasters earlier in this thread.

These items date from the 1930s and I believe remained available until as late as 1970 or thereabouts.

I don't know about these items now becoming collectable though. To people such as ourselves they are, but I'd think that's all. Old domestic appliances, especially from the kitchen, remain very common at flea markets, antique centres and so forth, so as yet few have any significant value.

Ekco-Scott · 19th Oct 2010, 3:29 am

Sadly my toaster has died i can't find the break in the element checked the fuse and it was fine i'm sad i think it dusn't like the new kichen

Paul_RK · 24th Oct 2010, 1:25 pm

A 1982 Dualit in service here, but a few more are "resting": two of them below, a Prilect and a Murlek by Murison Electricals of Sunderland. The latter's a little unusual for its rather boxy styling and the Douglas fir base.

Paul

Darren-UK · 24th Oct 2010, 1:44 pm

Crumbs, they are both quite unusual looking.

I wonder what the point of the wooden base was? Are the mains cable and associated gubbins mounted on it for insulation purposes?

Paul_RK · 24th Oct 2010, 2:06 pm

I think the base is just there as an element of the style and to give the toaster a welcome "heft" and stability: a small slab of pine with a lick of black gloss wouldn't have added much to the cost

The press-on metal feet each conceal the head of a bolt, and the toaster assembly is bolted directly to the base which doesn't have any further active role to play.

I've an HMV TU1 ("Toasting Unit"? their hair dryer at the time was model HD1, initials concealing nothing

) hiding somewhere too, missing a couple of its small bakelite handles but I still had it in regular use for a while: that's one of my favourite designs http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/r...g=2&imagepos=7 .

Paul

Darren-UK · 24th Oct 2010, 2:46 pm

That HMV is a nice, stylish unit which tells something of a story. The name 'Burlington' is associated with cities of that name in the USA and Canada, plus that rounded and slightly bulbous style reflects that of American cars and other things of the time. This was a styling that briefly crept over here to the UK, hence the toaster depicted.

I do not know if HMV did, or intended to, export products such as this but due to the postwar situation then prevailing I'd think they did. So it could've been a case of 'Nick the styling from the USA and sell it back to them'.

McMurdo · 24th Oct 2010, 6:20 pm

Couple of toasters here from a 1937 wholesaler's catalogue.
Interesting that the one on the second row can accept a conventional toast-rack on the top warming plate.

23rd Jul 2010, 1:38 am	#22
Ekco-Scott Pentode Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. Posts: 132	Re: GEC D5605A toaster, plus others. I use my toaster evrey day the best toast i have ever had and done in no time its the same one you have. Attached Thumbnails

23rd Jul 2010, 10:42 pm	#23
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: GEC D5605A toaster, plus others. That is fantastic, Ekco-Scott! I love that. Proper original mains lead like mine, too! I think yours is in better condition than mine - plus, it works! PS, some very interesting stuff being posted by everyone on this thread.

15th Aug 2010, 5:40 pm	#24
EF80TVVALVE Octode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Leicester, UK. Posts: 1,433	old "Premier" toaster hi, I brought this old toaster at an auction for a staggering £5 I heard that vintage kitchen items are becoming collectable. I rewired it and it worked! Does anyone know about these, i only know that it was made by Premier, runs on 210v (apparently regular voltage for old toasters) and as CAT No 916 and its serial number is B8. I have it on everyday and it makes toast very well... and fast does anyone know when they were made. it looks very 30's thanks Attached Thumbnails

16th Aug 2010, 8:29 am	#25
chipp1968 Rest in Peace Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,356	Re: old "Premier" toaster Yes photo helps . .Old toasters are very quick .I had to give up my murphy Richards pop up as it was constantly trapping toast and sometimes developed a fault where one panel lit up twice as bright and set fire to the toast !I retired it , but it was quick .Bought a modern one similar style .It was so slow i could walk the dog while waiting so I gave it to Mum, and bought another one at higher wattage .Its just as bad I now warm it up while getting stuff ready before adding bread !

16th Aug 2010, 11:15 am	#26
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: GEC D5605A toaster, plus others. You'll find some info, largely from myself, on Premier toasters earlier in this thread. These items date from the 1930s and I believe remained available until as late as 1970 or thereabouts. I don't know about these items now becoming collectable though. To people such as ourselves they are, but I'd think that's all. Old domestic appliances, especially from the kitchen, remain very common at flea markets, antique centres and so forth, so as yet few have any significant value.

19th Oct 2010, 3:29 am	#27
Ekco-Scott Pentode Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. Posts: 132	Re: GEC D5605A toaster, plus others. Sadly my toaster has died i can't find the break in the element checked the fuse and it was fine i'm sad i think it dusn't like the new kichen

24th Oct 2010, 1:25 pm	#28
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,259	Re: GEC D5605A toaster, plus others. A 1982 Dualit in service here, but a few more are "resting": two of them below, a Prilect and a Murlek by Murison Electricals of Sunderland. The latter's a little unusual for its rather boxy styling and the Douglas fir base. Paul Attached Thumbnails

24th Oct 2010, 1:44 pm	#29
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: GEC D5605A toaster, plus others. Crumbs, they are both quite unusual looking. I wonder what the point of the wooden base was? Are the mains cable and associated gubbins mounted on it for insulation purposes?

24th Oct 2010, 2:06 pm	#30
Paul_RK Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Fakenham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 4,259	Re: GEC D5605A toaster, plus others. I think the base is just there as an element of the style and to give the toaster a welcome "heft" and stability: a small slab of pine with a lick of black gloss wouldn't have added much to the cost The press-on metal feet each conceal the head of a bolt, and the toaster assembly is bolted directly to the base which doesn't have any further active role to play. I've an HMV TU1 ("Toasting Unit"? their hair dryer at the time was model HD1, initials concealing nothing ) hiding somewhere too, missing a couple of its small bakelite handles but I still had it in regular use for a while: that's one of my favourite designs http://www.scienceandsociety.co.uk/r...g=2&imagepos=7 . Paul Last edited by Paul_RK; 24th Oct 2010 at 2:14 pm.

24th Oct 2010, 2:46 pm	#31
Darren-UK Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Blackpool, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 4,061	Re: GEC D5605A toaster, plus others. That HMV is a nice, stylish unit which tells something of a story. The name 'Burlington' is associated with cities of that name in the USA and Canada, plus that rounded and slightly bulbous style reflects that of American cars and other things of the time. This was a styling that briefly crept over here to the UK, hence the toaster depicted. I do not know if HMV did, or intended to, export products such as this but due to the postwar situation then prevailing I'd think they did. So it could've been a case of 'Nick the styling from the USA and sell it back to them'.

24th Oct 2010, 6:20 pm	#32
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 5,273	Re: GEC D5605A toaster, plus others. Couple of toasters here from a 1937 wholesaler's catalogue. Interesting that the one on the second row can accept a conventional toast-rack on the top warming plate. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Kevin