‘Archer’ electric kettle, around 1902

‘Archer’ electric kettle made in Birmingham by Premier Electric Heaters, around 1902.

It is hard to imagine our homes without the familiar electric kettle. However, early examples were marketed as a luxury item, aimed at the rich. Thankfully, today they can be found in many of our kitchens. After all, where would we be without easy access to boiling water for our daily cuppa?

This model was one of the first kettles to have a boil-safe device. It had an element sealed in the base of the kettle, as well as a fusible cut out, which worked like an electric fuse. The electric circuit was broken by the melting of a metal alloy.