He has, over the years, acquired a collection of some 1,500 patented devices, one of which is an example of a self pouring teapot. It was invented by engineer John James Royle, from Manchester, in 1886. The teapot has a cover with a deep flange, which engages with a short cylinder in the top of the vessel. Pressing the cover down pushes hot water down through the tealeaves on a grille in the bottom, dispensing exactly one cup full from the spout, which is bent over so to deliver its charge vertically downwards into the cup beneath it. The design was made in single handled and two handled versions and over 250,000 were sold. Users are said to have included HM Queen Victoria. Unlike many inventors, Mr Royle was a good businessman, and took over a patent and trademark attorney company in order to protect his many inventions called Wilson Gunn, which is still in business today. Maurice is the founder of Prime Thinkers, which provides informal brainstorming sessions for inventors and budding entrepreneurs.
Solution to last month’s coffee time challenge
The answer to our challenge to develop a better teapot comes from retired exhibition organiser and printer, Maurice Collins, who lives in North London
