Frank Clarke Teasmade

	Probably the first commercially produced automatic tea making machine was a fantastic device built by Albert E Richardson of Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire. It is with great pleasure that I can confirms some details of Albert Richardson's life, thanks to information provided by his grandson. Albert was born in Warwick, Birmingham, at about the same time as Frank Clarke, suggesting that he may have been a relative, old friend or neighbour. Albert moved to Gravel Hill, Littlemoss, Ashton-under-Lyne to marry, around 1894. He appears in the 1901 census, where he is listed as an Iron Turner. His grandson confirms that he gave this as his profession on his son's marriage certificate.
	Unlike Rowbottom's invention, Albert's teawaker relied upon a tipping kettle. This example, manufactured about 1904, was presented to the Museum by L. Mawer of Kingston Upon Thames in 1961. The photograph shown is from the Science and Society Picture Library. The original machine and all rights to it were purchased from Richardson by the Birmingham gunsmith Frank Clarke, for an undisclosed sum. It seems Frank's living was made as a marketing guru in the Gadget Shop of his day! Having acquired the invention he fe filed the patent on April 7th 1902, (number 15170), calling it "An Apparatus Whereby a Cup of Tea or Coffee is Automatically Made". He then marketed the teamaker to the rich clients of his gun establishment in Snow Hill. I imagine that another of his patents, for a trouser press, was purchased and developed in the same way. Chris Upton describes the "Clock That Makes Tea" for us here: "Clarke's machine begins with a clock which has a revolving winder attached to it. Once the clock has reached a pre-set time (on the patent diagram the inventor has set it for the civised hour of 5 to 8), the winder releases a catch which allows an arm to spring back and strike a match." (The match is held against some abrasive paper by spring pressure). "A match alone is not enough to boil a kettle full of water, obviously. The match in turn lights a spirit lamp positioned under the kettle." "Once the water is boiling the steam lifts a plate inside the kettle. The plate replaces another catch which has been holding the kettle in position. Once released the kettle tips forward and pours the boiling water into a waiting cup. Tea's up. This in itself is pretty impressive, but there remains the possibility that the person in bed might not have been woken up by all this clicking and striking and springing and bubbling. The inventor, however, had added one final piece to the jigsaw. Once the kettle has tipped up sufficiently it releases another catch which allows a shutter to slide over the spirit lamp to extinguish it. (Otherwise you might wake up to a real fire). As the shutter slides across it moves an arm, which strikes the bell on top of the clock. Hey presto! Alarm clock and teamaker, all in the same breath."
	I have attempted to identify Frank Clarke In the 1881 Census, and only one likely candidate has come to light. The Clarke family of 130 Victoria Road, Aston, Warwick, B6 5HH, consisted of: James Clarke, a Rifle Sight Maker, age 48, born in London, Middlesex His wife, Caroline Clarke, age 41. Caroline was born in Birmingham, and married James in London. Their children, all unmarried in 1886, and all born in Birmingham: Frederick James Clarke, age 20, Gunfinisher Apprentice Caroline S. Clarke, age 18 Charles A. Clarke, age 16, Jewellers Apprentice William Henry Clarke, age 14, Scholar Gertrude M. Clarke, age 12, Scholar Frank R. Clarke, age 10, Scholar (likely birth date 1871) There is a strong possibility that this is indeed Frank Clarke's family. In the 1892 directory there is a mention of James Clarke, who may well have been Frank's father, listed as: Clark, James, rifle sight maker, 27½, Whittall St. (There are a number of other businesses at this address). James remains listed at this address for a number of years, but disappears from it some time between 1904 and 1906, when he would have been 66 to 68 years old and understandably ready for retirement. It seems quite likely that young Frank would have followed his father and eldest brother into the gun making trade. Frank is not listed in the Birmingham Gun Trade Register in his own right before 1901, but his gun manufacturing business first appears in a Birmingham trade directory in 1902, when he was based in Snow Hill.
	Frank Clarke's teasmade is featured in this delightful advertisement from "Madame" magazine in 1904. According to the advertisement, the company enjoyed London offices at 31 George Street, Hanover Square, and also at 26a Corporation Street, Birmingham (pictured left in 1899). This site has since been redeveloped and the new property is occupied by Beatties department stores. Maria Twist from Birmingham Local Studies Library tells me that there is no mention of the Automatic Water Boiler Company or number 26a in Kelly's directories for 1903 or 1910. Number 26 is referred to as Midland Chambers. There was an outfitters called Thomas Donne Ltd. at street level, and several different firms in the floors above, including The Wholesale Traders' Association for the Hardware, Furnishing & Metal Industries Limited, and George A. Heyes & Co., business agents. It is therefore unlikely that the teasmades were actually made in Corporation Street which was, after all, in the middle of the shopping and business district. Chris Upton writes: "I hereby nominate Frank Clarke (posthumously) for the Nobel Peace Prize: the gunmaker who encouraged people to stay in bed and make tea, not war."
	Although Frank Clarke' seems to have had no further interest in teasmades, his gun making activities continued into the 1930's. It appears that he concentrated his efforts on the air weapon trade. The Birmingham Gun Trade Register confirms that from 1912 to 1919 Frank Clarke operated from 6 Whittall Street, Birmingham. The Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House records are incomplete before 1912, so there are no details of his earlier gun making activities. The advert (left) appears in the Sporting Goods Review, December 1916. This is the only advert known to the Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House. It shows the Titan Air Pistol, a bolt action pistol. The barrel slides forward allowing the pellet to be loaded from the grip end of the pistol. The piston spring is cocked by depressing a plunger sited in the front of the chamber (muzzle end). The advert also mentions a range of gun pellets made by Frank Clarke, including the Bull Dog, Acme, Leader and King brands.
	On 17th January 1917 Frank Clarke was granted Patent 110999 for an air pistol. The illustration (left) is an abridgement of the specification.
	The photocopy (left) shows a similar design, but with the front cocking lever removed. It is cocked with a rod sited at the grip end, as in the above Patent. This photocopy comes from the July 1979 edition of Guns Review.
	In 1922 Frank Clarke collaborated with JES Lockwood of 3 New Street Birmingham to introduce a new version of the Titan, shown in the photocopy (left). Two further versions were made after this, which differed in how the foresight was fitted and in relation to the flare of the butt. To load these later versions the plunger arm was rotated in line with the cylinder and then depressed until the piston caught on the sear. The rod was then drawn back and folded down alongside the rear of the butt. The breech was now swung at right angles to the line of the butt to allow a pellet to be inserted into the rear of the barrel. Once closed the weapon could be fired. These pistols were not powerful and were designed for use by youngsters.
	In 1930 Frank Clarke moved his business to 39 Loveday Street. He collaborated with William Anson on a patent dated July 9th 1930. A family historian, Clare, writes: "I have been researching and writing articles about my Great Great Grandfather William Anson (b.1830) and his son Edwin. As well as having his own gunmaking business in Slaney Street and Steelhouse Lane, William was Manager of the Shotgun action department of Westley Richards and, with John Deeley, invented the Anson and Deeley shotgun action which is still in use to day. Edwin (b. 1863) continued the family business, travelling to the States, and also continuing to invent for shotguns and air pistols." Frank's last entry as a member of the Birmingham Gun Trade appeared in 1939.