53/2005
Collection
Domestic Appliances
Brief description
'Avon' portable two-bar reflector fire, model number FA/20, design number 873 623, designed in 1954 and manufactured by Morphy Richards, England, 1955-1970.
Title
FA/20
Object name
electric fire
Object number
53/2005
Production organisation
Morphy Richards (manufacturer)
Production date
April 1954 (designed)
1955-1970 (manufactured)
1955-1970 (manufactured)
Production place
St Mary Cray (manufactured)
Period
Twentieth century (1900-1999)
Material
metal
Technique
manufactured
Dimensions
Height: 46.5cm
Width: 36cm
Depth: 22cm
Width: 36cm
Depth: 22cm
Website keywords
Heating
electric heating
electric heating
Label
Caption for Exploring 20th Century London website:
Electric fires were in existence at the tail end of the nineteenth century, but didn't really appear in homes until the 1930s. It wasn't until the 1950s, when a new supergrid was built supplying electricity to almost every household, that electric appliances really began to infiltrate British homes, now generally servant-less with the domestic chores undertaken by the resident wife/mother - whether she worked outside the home or not. By 1965 70% of English households owned an electric fire - the 'Avon' model shown here was made by Morphy Richards in their St Mary Cray, Bromley factory from 1955-1970, and in 1960 it cost £4.5s.0d plus 15s.4d purchase tax, and came in a choice of three finishes - pearl bronze, red or charcoal.
Electric fires were in existence at the tail end of the nineteenth century, but didn't really appear in homes until the 1930s. It wasn't until the 1950s, when a new supergrid was built supplying electricity to almost every household, that electric appliances really began to infiltrate British homes, now generally servant-less with the domestic chores undertaken by the resident wife/mother - whether she worked outside the home or not. By 1965 70% of English households owned an electric fire - the 'Avon' model shown here was made by Morphy Richards in their St Mary Cray, Bromley factory from 1955-1970, and in 1960 it cost £4.5s.0d plus 15s.4d purchase tax, and came in a choice of three finishes - pearl bronze, red or charcoal.
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