When Britain was hot on manufacturing – and kettle design | Letter

Dr Nicholas Russell responds to a review by Edward Posnett and reflects on the pioneering work of his father and his business partner, Peter HobbsI was pleased to read Edward Posnett’s review (19 February) of Tim Minshall’s Your Life Is Manufactured . Little attention is currently paid to manufacturing, perhaps because it comprises only 8% of British GDP.The opening of the review focuses on the domestic kettle, Posnett emphasising that the “tocks” of automatic kettles switching off are as significant for us as the nightingale’s song was for John Keats. But despite this cultural significance, no electric kettles are made in Britain now. Continue reading...

Feb 28, 2025 - 21:55
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When Britain was hot on manufacturing – and kettle design | Letter

Dr Nicholas Russell responds to a review by Edward Posnett and reflects on the pioneering work of his father and his business partner, Peter Hobbs

I was pleased to read Edward Posnett’s review (19 February) of Tim Minshall’s Your Life Is Manufactured . Little attention is currently paid to manufacturing, perhaps because it comprises only 8% of British GDP.

The opening of the review focuses on the domestic kettle, Posnett emphasising that the “tocks” of automatic kettles switching off are as significant for us as the nightingale’s song was for John Keats. But despite this cultural significance, no electric kettles are made in Britain now. Continue reading...