A Short Circuit

2009.63/1

Rowlett began making toasters in 1945, with this one dating from about 1950. This toaster was used at a time when electrical appliances were designed to be repaired and local engineers were widely available to maintain and fix such domestic goods. For example, this receipt from 1959 shows the servicing and replacement of a faulty valve for a television by a firm in Gloucester. The television was either rented or owned by William Robert Marsland who lived in Theescombe and was a foundry manager at Newman Hender.

2007.145/388

The Berry’s Magicoal Fire was owned by Patricia Pinnell, a teacher who lived in Stroud. She bought the electric fire for 3 pounds 11 shillings in 1951 from R. Lewis of Stroud, who supplied, installed and maintained electrical goods and systems. This page from the warranty shows that a renovation service was offered to make the fire “as new”. On the back is written: “This fire is designed and constructed to give you many years of trouble-free service.”

2019.26/195

While Rowlett, who continue to manufacture toasters today, provide a range of spare parts and accessories to extend the life of their appliances, they are one of few toaster brands that do this. The vast majority of electrical appliances are no longer designed to be repaired easily or cost-effectively. This has contributed to the U.K. producing the second most electrical waste per capita in the world, after Norway. This amounts to 1.5 million tonnes of electrical waste, with only 17% of it being recycled.

As early as 1954 American industrial engineer Brook Stevens popularised the term ‘planned obsolescence’, suggesting products should be designed to become obsolete before they would naturally fail and buyers should be encouraged to want something newer and better before it was actually necessary, in order to boost sales. While the benefit of electronic goods becoming cheaper and more easily accessible to everyone must be acknowledged, many are now frustrated by their short lifespans. Mobile phones are being built with batteries designed to wear out after 400 charges, which are glued into the phone or can only be replaced using a specialist tool. Software updates can result in devices no longer being compatible, forcing replacement. Similarly, most washing machines now have sealed drums so for the common problem of failed bearings, a new machine is needed because the cost of repair is prohibitive. So those wishing to repair come up against the barriers of cost, lack of availability of spare parts and of contractors.

On 1st July this year the government’s Right to Repair law came into effect. Manufacturers are now required to make spare parts available for simple and safe repairs by consumers and to make further parts available for repair by professionals. Currently this only applies to dishwashers, washing machines, washer-dryers, fridges, televisions/electronic displays and some non-consumer electronics. Without any regulation of price of parts this doesn’t remove the issue of replacement being cheaper than repair, but it is a positive step in increasing the lifespan of some electrical goods.

Alongside the increased availability of online repair tutorials and digitised operating manuals, there is a growing community repair movement. Locally volunteers at Transition Stroud Repair Cafes offer tools and advice on mending clothes, toys and small electrical appliances, as well as an opportunity to sharpen blunt tools. Stonehouse Share and Repair shop repair electrical, mechanical, wooden items, clocks and textiles for the cost of parts and a donation, and offer tools for hire so you don’t have to purchase your own. There are changes even in mobile phones, with refurbished phones becoming increasingly popular and one company is creating phones that are modular in order that they can be easily repaired and updated. Steps are being made to close the loop, to move away from a linear approach of make, use, dispose to a circular system (or you could say a circuit!) where the faulty product is brought back into use, either by repair or re-use of parts.

Penultimate paragraph updated 16.08.21