Stove top whistling kettle » The Memory Box Project

Description:

A kettle designed to be boiled on a hob. A lid on the top is removed to fill the kettle and on the end of the spout is a device which emits a loud whistle when the water is boiling. This ensures the kettle is not left to boil dry.

The kettles were most widely used on gas hobs between the 1930s and 1960s, prior to the widespread use of electric jug kettles which automatically switch off when the water is boiling. They are still sold and in use today for all types of hob and many colours.

Key theme(s):

Cookery

More information:

Date	1920s
Material(s)	Metal
Item number	MBPO41

Questions to help you remember using this item

What colour was the kettle you used?
Could you remove the whistle?
Was yours a gas or electric hob?

User Stories

The kettle that I remember had a whistle that was removed before the water was poured from the spout. A child could play with this. Many kettles now have a whistle that clips back and is not removed.