Veret bed warmer

A green coloured Veret electric bed warmer, compression moulded in urea formaldehyde. Designed by Ernest Paul Feakes, a carpenter and builder from Belvedere in Kent. He joined with Robert Richard Richards in the 1930s to build a large estate in Bexleyheath (Feakes & Richards) but was always interested in inventing, carving and making things, with at least 9 patents registered by him between 1904-1938 for a variety of items including furniture and fastener improvements. He set up the Veret company to manufacture the bed warmer at 134-136 Woolwich Road, Abbey Wood, London, SE2. His granddaughter recalls using one when she was a child, standing on her bed to remove the ceiling lightbulb and replace it with the fitting attached to the bed warmer. She recalled the appliance made a gentle humming noise when switched on. First patented in December 1947, the bed warmers were sold at chemists and electrical hardware stores, and advertised as 'Shock-proof, fool-proof and guaranteed. No water to leak, suitable for all voltages and consumption is only one unit a week when left on day and night. Price 14/-'. It was featured at the British Industried Fair in 1948. See AIBDC : 0_2423 for another example.

"Veret Ltd."

AIBDC : 0_2425