Dualit
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1946 |
| Headquarters | West Sussex, England |
| Website | http://dualit.com |
Dualit is a British manufacturer of kitchen and catering equipment, best known for their range of heavy-duty toasters. The Dualit toaster is regarded as a design classic. It differs from most other toasters in that it is relatively simple in construction, with an electromechanical timer and using a manual lever mechanism to lift the toast from the toasting slots. It is also easily repairable, with replacement elements and other parts available, so it typically has a longer service life than contemporary electronic toasters. Although it was primarily designed for the commercial catering market, its appearance has led to its becoming trendy in the domestic market, described by The Observer as a "symbol of the kitchen porn 90s".[1]
Origins
Dualit was founded in 1946 by the German-born British inventor Max Gort-Barten CBE (1914–2003) and was incorporated as Dualit Ltd in 1948. The company’s first product was an electric heater.[2][3]
Design
The Dualit toaster, designed in the early 1950s, is notable for its 'large loaf' shape, characterised with cooling slots at both ends of the unit designed to allow it to function for periods of extended use in commercial environments such as a café or canteen. The units are currently available in different sizes, with various slot numbers and are manufactured in a range of colours. The simple hand-built process used in their manufacture, with each part held together with visible screws, makes the toaster robust, yet easy to disassemble and repair. Another distinguishing feature of these machines is the electromechanical timer.
Dualit have marketed a diverse range of kitchenware products in recent years, including smaller imported domestic toasters, kettles and Espresso machines, mechanical scales and digital radios.
The commercial-grade Dualit toaster is still made in England. Many of their products have won awards from prestigious organisations and publications such as the Good Housekeeping Institute.
References
.
- ↑ Observer Food Monthly, September 12, 2004
- ↑ www.ipo.gov.uk details
- ↑ "Max Gort-Barten". The Times. 10 October 2003. Retrieved 26 May 2011.