[fanfan]

Your reply forced me to learn more. (I love that. Thanks!)

I think you are taking about a percolator.

Here is a kettle from the ‘60s. It was only for boiling water.

http://www.canadiandesignresource.ca/housewares/k-42-electric-kettle/

My sister told me she couldn't buy one when she lived in Kentucky. We had to send her one.
It's probably because you don't drink as much tea as we do.

[skinkinthegrass]

OH!.. OK!, we used ours for both tea or coffee
it made wicked/very strong beverages, it didn't
occur to us to use a different vessel for the same purpose. 😨