100 years of Stoves
Origins (1920s) They say that the way to a person’s heart is through their
stomach, so perhaps that’s why Stoves was formed on 14 February 1920. Originally a manufacturer of sheet metal and gas heaters, the owners recognised that a revolution was happening in British kitchens, with a move away from tiny sculleries towards kitchens as we think of them today, and a growing interest in the art of cookery. Originally based in Warrington, Stoves relocated to its current manufacturing facility in Rainhill Prescot in 1925. A former World War One munitions site, the new larger premises allowed Stoves to apply its manufacturing expertise and access to quality materials to cookers.
(1925 management team) 1920s 1930s 1930s
Stoves developed a reputation for manufacturing excellence, producing oil-powered stoves and a range of camping stoves which remain popular with collectors today. By 1937, Stoves Ltd had developed an extensive range of cookers and was exhibiting at the British Industries Fair, one of the most-visited attractions in the country, on a site that would eventually become home to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC). Visitors to the show that year were shown Stoves’ range of gas cookers, including the Bakerloo, Newhome, Reliable and Kitchenette models.
1940s
Like its sister company, Belling, Stoves played a vital role in the war effort of the Second World War, returning to the roots of its Rainhill site and supporting the munitions manufacturing effort. Cooking in this era was more challenging than in any other. Strict rationing meant cooks needed to be extremely creative with what few ingredients they could get hold of and be able to make the best use of leftovers.
(Stoves’ best-selling Newhome collection)
1960s The freedom of the sixties brought new and exciting cuisines. Exotic foods
(Ration book from the 1940s) 1940s 1950s 1950s
As Britain emerged from the post-war years into the economically liberated 1950s, things such as American toasters, sliced bread, instant coffee and pre-sugared cereals invaded the home and people began to expect more from their appliances. As rationing continued into the early fifties, the Newhome model remained popular with economical homemakers and Stoves recommenced its marketing activity, attending exhibitions throughout the UK.
became increasingly popular – including Indian, Chinese, and Italian – as spices and ingredients became easier to obtain following the end of rationing. Stoves responded to the runaway success of its first ‘Newhome’ model by expanding the range with a collection of products, which included several innovative firsts, such as a hotplate ignition button and the first self-cleaning oven lining. One of the most popular products was the Newhome Cabaret.
1960s 1970s
1970s By 1971, the
Newhome had an unprecedented 15 per cent of the UK cooking market and took pride of place in kitchens up and down the UK. The brand’s
(Advertisement for the Newhome X7A)
runaway success attracted outside interest and, in the same year, Stoves became part of a newly formed
(Stoves 1937 football team) (A Stoves exhibition stand from the 1950s)
company – Newhome-Veritas – which was subsequently acquired by manufacturing giant of the time, Valor, which was looking to diversify from heating appliances.
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