Customer Reviews

Simplex Heritage Gas Tea Kettle, Chrome

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've had this kettle for about 7 years and I felt compelled to give it my" thumbs up". I moved recently and had to leave my kettle behind. I am looking for a temporary replacement but none of the kettles I've looked at seemed to have all of the qualities I look for: design, whistle, cool handle, quick boil, no-fuss whistle removal, and capacity. Well, this kettle has it all (it's not modern, but the design is simple and timeless)! The whistle is in the spout, so there's nothing to remove when you pour ( this doesn't affect the water flow). Boils water super-fast! The handle is always cool (wood). Love it! Of course, it is a bit pricey, but it will last you a lifetime.

Bought this to replace our Chantal Classic 1 4/5qt tea kettle. First of all, it's absolutely beautiful from every angle. A really gorgeous kettle, classic curves, stunning!!! A true timelessness, like having the Queen Mother in your kitchen, boiling up a spot of tea. We've gotten compliments from everyone, from Al the plumber to the newly married Google exec (who was a bit wistful at having recently chosen the Chantal).

Next point of comparison, function: the kettle has a turned wooden handle and can therefore be picked up off the boil without a potholder, a difference that we appreciated after the Chantal. Also the whistle is built into the lid, and will never need to be replaced, which is why we got rid of the Chantal (it had a gorgeous train-like harmonic whistle, but the reed-fitting costs $20+ to replace, and stopped working after a few months). After using it whistle-less for a period of time we decided to go with a replacement that would save us money by using less energy rather than spending money buying replacement parts. Also, the Simplex is a breeze to keep shiny and clean, buffs clean with a dry or damp cloth, cleans up like brand-new even after sullen teenagers have splatter-fried foods on the neighboring burner. By comparison, the Chantal charcoal grey enamel required it's own bullet-point on my to-do list when needing to be cleaned. In addition this kettle holds a generous amount of water, enough to brew up four giant mugs of tea or fill a large french coffee press with water left over for a cup or two of hot cocoa for the kids.

Finally, energy efficiency. Before tossing the Chantal into the Good Will box I conducted a test to see if the coils on the bottom of the new kettle really did make a difference: The Simplex boiled the same amount of water on the same flame setting in exactly 3/4th's of the time; 6 minutes vs. 8 minutes for the Chantal.

Oh, and by the way, even the teenagers give the new kettle two sullen thumbs up. I haven't told them yet that "Good Will Box" is really a euphemism for "stuff you get to take when you leave for college."

I am extremely pleased with this tea kettle. I have had many whistling tea kettles over my lifetime, but I definitely like this one the best of all. Aesthetically, it is a beautiful tea kettle and has an old fashioned charm. It feels very solid and not flimsy at all. In the past, I have had tea kettles that once they whistle and you go to pour the hot water into your cup or tea pot, they sputter all over the place -- sometimes even splashing your hands a bit! This tea kettle pours very nicely once it whistles. It has been very satisfying all around -- I'm pleased.

The Simplex Chrome Whistling Tea Kettle is the fastes boiling kettle that I have ever found. It has a large capacity and is, to my eye, extremly attractive. The whistle is loud enough to be heard through out the house. I believe that the all copper version is a little faster to come to a boil, but as copper has to be cleaned constantly to look good, I'd rather wait the extra few moments to achieve a boil for the "wash and ware" chrome model. This extremly well made kettle has been in constant use in my home for 18 years. It has paid for it's self may times over with it's quick to boil design and when the time comes to replace this old friend I will pay what ever price I have to replace it with another Simplex Chrome Whistling Gas Stove Tea Kettle.

I recently purchased this tea kettle in chrome and I love it!! It's well made, heats quickly and the whistle is built in so that it does not have to be removed from a hot spout before pouring the boiling water. Prior to this, I had a Le Creuset for many years. Although they make some wonderful products, the Simplex tea kettle has it all over the Le Creuset, hands down. I had to have the Le Creuset replaced (free) twice because of nasty corrosion in the bottom of the kettle.

I look forward to many years with my new tea kettle.

I purchased this kettle several years ago. It has been a joy to hear the gentle whistle and see it sparkle on my the stovetop. After much use, it still gleamed gloriously, but the steam began to break down the finish of the handle and it began to peel. The bits that attached the handle loosened and eventually got misplaced for good. I realize this was my own doing but the good people at Williams-Sonoma gave me a replacement without any questions when I showed it to them. Had I known how happy I would be so many years later I would never have blinked twice at the price - which hasn't increased much in nearly a decade!

How grateful I am for a little tea company that sent me their catalog, because this is how I learned about these Simplex kettles! I then got online and found Amazon had the best offer on this chrome-plated copper tea kettle. Having used this for several months, I am a devoted Simplex kettle user. This kettle brings the water to boil in 1/4 the time on my gas stove. I have a Revereware kettle that takes seemingly forever, in comparison. Water does not spot this kettle....just wipe it off with a soft, clean cloth. The wood handle never gets hot to the touch, and the unique whistle is actually built into the kettle (creates a reassuring little rattle when you pour out the hot water). This kettle is constructed with nuts and bolts, and you can get replacement parts for it anytime. Simplex has been making these for a very long time, they cost a little more than other less efficient kettles, but it will be the last kettle you will ever have to purchase. Only a Simplex will do for me.

Very high quality kettle. No problems with this kettle at all (not heavy, doesn't drip, handle does not get too hot to touch). I pondered long and hard over getting the "right" kettle for our classic, with modern touch kitchen. I'm extremely pleased. Expensive, but worth it! Packaging was good. Arrived quickly.

This is clearly the most beautiful piece in my kitchen...I LOVE it! The workmanship and materials are superb.
I do wish the whistle was louder and I need to check with the company on this. This is the only teakettle I will ever buy!

This kettle replaced a Chantal which had served us well for more than fifteen years. We didn't buy another Chantal, because the quality seems to have declined a lot. We've had the Simplex for about three months, and we use it ten or twelve times a day for coffee and tea. The Simplex has some very strong positive points-- it seems to be well made, it's very fast, you can take it from the stove without a pot holder, and the whistle works consistently (the whistle on the Chantal often became clogged with condensed water).
On the other hand, it's harder to fill than the Chantal, because you have to remove the top (you can fill the Chantal through the spout), and you have to be careful not to overfill it. The top gets quite hot when the water boils, so you have to use the knob to remove it, and again, you have to be very careful. The balance of the kettle and the rate of pouring are very different from the Chantal. And of course the chrome tends to water-spot. Unlike many buyers, I'm not much charmed by the design.
Still, although it took me a while to get use to it, I now like it a lot, I would certainly recommend it highly. I've become accustomed to its quirks, and I even like some of them. (And I should perhaps add that my wife thinks it looks great, and she's liked it from the beginning.)

All in all, the Simplex is a fine kettle, and I'm glad we got it.