I was given one as a housewarming gift when I bought my first house - but, quite honestly, could never see the point of them.
In theory - you woke up to a nice cup of tea before leaving your bed to start the day.
In practice - that didn’t work - unless you were partial to black tea - because if you left the milk on the tray with your cup and saucer overnight - it went off - so you had to go to the kitchen for milk - ergo - you had to get up - so what was the point?
Yes - an alarm sounded - it made the tea but I like milk in mine - but had to go down stairs to fetch it - once my feet touch the floor I do not go back to bed - so what was the point of the machine?
Yep! That is exactly why I never wanted one! Pointless things in my opinion. But also, I’ve got to be honest, I’ve never liked tea in bed anyway - once I’m awake I just want to get up. I’d much rather sit downstairs comfortably with a coffee table next to me to put the cup on, instead of having to kind of reach round backwards a bit to put it down on the bedside table. No, not for me!
When they first became popular I bought three one Christmas.One for my mum,one for an aunt and one for my girl friend’s mum.I think only the aunt stuck with it.
Such generosity with the true spirit of Christmas you may think but we had them in stock where I worked and I got them cheap:)
I remember them, and saying at the time what a useless invention they were, if we can’t make a cup of tea for ourselves when we want it, then God help us all.
strangely enough I worked for Goblin in leatherhead surrey for my first job. There it was vacuum cleaners but got Sue a teasmade at cost price. Oh I worked in the electronic developement section
What!!! Nowt wrong with a bit of marvel…I always have a spare tin in the cupboard! You just don’t follow the instructions about the amount…that’s the secret
Marvel, yes, I always keep that and don’t mind it in tea, but you have to mix it with a little cold water first, otherwise it’s vile. But the little pods of milk like you get in hotels still have to be kept in a fridge unless they’re UHT. And if they are UHT, then no thanks, absolutely vile in tea
no always messed about usually taking things apart to see how they worked. if they didn’t then fixing them. Thought nothing of stripping down a car engine replacing worn parts such as white shells on the big end bearings. Clutch plates changes in under an hour, oh yes I new about cars and how they workedi That has foxed you!!! Actually I help a work pal out on car repairs most evenings to save money to get married. Went to main job daytime then straight on to this sideline for a bit more money. a 12 to 14 hour day was the norm plus weekends. on top of that went to night school to learn a bit about carpentry as well as some pub work.
Lets put it in perspective
at age 23 started going out with Sue and started saving very hard we had 5 jobs between us
In 18 months of engagement saved nearly £2,000 on about £15/20 a week main job rest made up of other work
Always grafted and turned my hand to anything that needed doing
as a side note the Dr told me to ease up on the work side I was beginning to suffer health wise
I don’t drink hot drinks, so it’s my idea of an awful wake up. But as a young teenager in the early 70’s. I used my summer holiday job to put some money aside & buy one for my mother.
Nowt wrong with a bit of marvel…I always have a spare tin in the cupboard! You just don’t follow the instructions about the amount…that’s the secret 
