... that the inventor of the automatic electric kettle switch was Isle of Man based Dr John Crawshaw Taylor.
He was born in Buxton, Derbyshire in 1936 but was sent to Canada at the outbreak of WW2, returning to the UK in 1945. He was educated at King William's College Isle of Man before being accepted into Corpus Christi, Cambridge where he studied Natural Sciences.
After graduation he joined his father's company Otter Controls which had an IOM subsidiary (Castletown Thermostats) which later changed name to become Strix. He was a gifted inventor and his company developed and produced his invention - thermostat controls for electric kettles - making quite a significant profit.
As well as being an inventor he was a keen horologist, building up an impressive clock collection, and also a philanthropist, supporting educational institutions in the UK.
Browsing the local property sales websites, I have discovered that his house here on the IOM is up for sale in case anyone is interested...
Cowley Groves - Arragon Mooar, Old Castletown Road, Santon, IM4 1HB
... if you have £30 million to spare.
Interesting, I guess. What brought him to mind, JayCee?
ReplyDeleteIt came up in conversation with some friends at the weekend. His company, Strix, was a significant employer here when we first arrived and I often think about his invention whenever I use my kettle to make tea!
DeleteMore an institution than a home. Would hate to see their electric bill (shudders).
ReplyDeleteI know! But I suppose if you have thirty million to spend on buying a home you wouldn't care too much about the utility bills.
DeleteNor worry about who would clean it!
DeleteAs my mother used to say - 'we'll have two of those in case one sickens us'!
ReplyDeleteWise words!
DeleteI'll look in the pot on the mantlepiece to see if we have enough.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see you hand it all over in sixpenny pieces.
DeleteI would have the stone circle. There are lots of them over here.
ReplyDeleteMake them an offer, Dave. You may be lucky.
DeleteWell, I never knew that about the inventor of the automatic electric kettle switch. If I'm honest, I've never given it a thought!
ReplyDeleteNo, I wouldn't fork out 30 million for that. I think it's awful, and where did they get that bath - it's hideous! But that's just me, and I'd have nightmares about keeping all those floors clean - you can't get the staff these days. I expect some celebrity, or footballer, will snap it up! I wonder if any Russians would be allowed to make an offer?
Well, I admit I was tempted for a while there but I think I'll stick with this house for now.
DeleteOther controls still exists (I think ) at least it did a few years ago.I lived in Buxton for many years not far from the "Otters " factory.
ReplyDeleteHappy days. Tish. X
According to Professor Google, Otters is still there. Good to see a successful British company still hanging on.
DeleteNo we didn't know that (about the invdntion part). Did he build that house or just renovate, modernize... adapt, mutilate an old place?
ReplyDeleteHe designed it and had it built. Apparently it has been on the market for a while now so he may be open to offers.
DeletePS that black and white tile floor is the kind of visual disruption that would give Mr B a migraine, and over all it doesn't look homely enough for cats so I've talked F out of buying it. Xxx Mr T
ReplyDeleteOh, shame. I am sure you would have been quite comfortable there, Mr T.
DeleteI didn't know any of that - you never know when things like that might be trotted out so that I appear a mine of information.
ReplyDeleteI am a mine of useless information.
DeleteOtter Controls is an odd name for a company . I imagine that John Crawshaw Taylor employed otters to test out his prototypes. Poor things.
ReplyDeleteI found this explanation online. I like it!
DeleteAfter the war, Eric founded Otters with friends John Fletcher and Charles Faulkner. The company name allegedly came from a conversion with John who, in reference to the use of bimetal blades in hot water systems, exclaimed, “Oh! – You mean a ‘water ‘otter!”
I wouldn't mind a pied-a-terre on your lovely island. Maybe I could settle in to the library. Perhaps someone will convert it into an elite hotel.
ReplyDeleteWell the big house does not appeal. Too futuristic for my tastes. I will just make myself a cozy little nest in one of the outbuildings.
ReplyDeleteA she-shed for Debby.
DeleteI didn't know that and now I do. It's always interesting to read about your place, and people, in the world
ReplyDeleteFor some reason Blogger put you into my spam folder. Sigh.
DeleteNew snippets of information about the island and its inhabitants crop up all the time. After 32 years here we are still learning.
It's a bit too big I think, so I shan't be making an offer. I like the conservatory, but the rest of it isn't very " homely" is it? What do people do in such huge bedrooms I have always wondered!
ReplyDeleteHmm.. perhaps best not to think about it.
Delete