All Mix Blog

Before leaving work this evening I tore a piece from The Daily Telegraph. I believe it is by Rupert Christiansen but my clipping technique left me with only his forename. In this sidebar piece Rupert (apologies to Mr Christiansen if it was not his work), talks of 'German industrial excellence' alongside the British manufacturing culture that 'is one of corner cutting and quick profit, which ultimately leaves the landfill sites full of broken down plastic rubbish.' Rupert ends by stating that 'the best travel clock, the best food mixer, the best iron, with the clearest dials and crispest switches are German every time.' One would like to point him in the direction of similarly crisp and clear designs from the likes of British manufacturers Anglepoise and Dualit . However, I do admit to having a large soft spot for the work of Dieter Rams and therefore am permitted to include the picture above.

During the 1980s Dualit benefited from government export grants and attended European trade shows, bringing their product to a wider audience. The factory had to expand to cope with increasing demand, stemming from both the European exposure and the trends at the time. In 1989 Max Gort-Barten was awarded a CBE for services to the British manufacturing industry. A decade of innovation followed in which Dualit launched their first cordless kettle. Products were re-engineered and re-housed in the Dualit style. In 1999 the company used space shuttle technology to develop the Proheat toaster element, winnning a Millenium award. With the death of Gort-Barten in 2003, Dualit moved to new premises, in Crawley, West Sussex. Production continues at the site today.

In the 60s, as the range of toasters grew, Dualits were to be found in commercial kitchens across the UK and even made it on to the QE2. A three slot version was developed specifically for John Lewis in the 70s. Later in the decade, Dualit employed a Royal College of Art design graduate. The styling of the new ranges continued to find favour with retailers.

Founder of Dualit, Max Gort-Barten, the son of an inventor, served five years in WWII before buying a factory in Camberwell, south London, to manufacture his products. The utilitarian design of Dualit's toasters is instantly recognisable and the hallmarks have barely changed since the first patent was issued in 1946. In 1952 Gort-Barten designed a new, commercial six slice toaster with mechanical timer and manual eject. The residents of Picton Street, SE5, and the entire Gort-Barten family were involved with its production. In 1954 the Government compulsory purchased the factory and gave Gort-Barten money to build new premises off of Old Kent Road (see image one in Scrapbook Pt. 2, below.)