During the 1920s, Americans bought more than a million electric toasters, usually for use right on the breakfast table. Early electric toasters browned only one side at a time and required users to watch, flip, and then remove each slice.
How much did the first toaster cost?
During the 1930s, toasters were luxuries; some cost up to $25 (the equivalent of $393 in 2010). Thirty years later, however, the toaster price had dropped, and most families were able to afford one. Toasters were also designed to be more compact during this time period to free up counter space.
What toaster was used in the 1920s?
This nickel-plated electric toaster dates from the mid-to late-1920s. Similar to a modern day toaster, the bread to be toasted was slipped into the metal framework slots on either side of the toaster. The center of the toaster would then heat up, toasting the bread.
Charles Perkins Strite, inventor of the automatic toaster, is show in 1919, the year before he applied for a patent on his invention. This is the drawing Charles Perkins Strite submitted on June 22, 1920, for the world’s first pop-up toaster, Patent No. 1,394,450.
When was the first toaster sold?
The first commercially successful electric toaster was introduced by General Electric in 1909 for the GE model D-12. Toasters were not invented by an “Alan MacMasters”; that notion stems from a 2010s Wikipedia hoax.
Did they have toasters in 1930?
By 1930, more than one million toasters were being sold annually and by 1960 they had become ubiquitous in American kitchens.
What is the oldest toaster?
The first-ever electric toaster was invented by Alan MacMasters in 1893. It toasted only one side of the bread, so you had to flip the bread over. His model also had a problem with the heating coils.
How did they make toast without toaster?
First, add butter or oil to the pan and heat the skillet over medium heat for approximately two minutes. Once the skillet is hot, place slices of bread on the pan and cook for a couple of minutes until each side is golden brown. Remove from heat and enjoy your toast!
How did people toast before toasters?
Before the development of the electric toaster, hand sliced bread had to be toasted on a long metal fork or in a metal frame held over a fire, or on a gas stove. Simple utensils for toasting bread over open flames appeared in the early 19th century.
The first Pop-up toaster: In 1926, the Waters-Genter Company used a redesigned version of the Strite’s toaster; it was called the “Toastmaster”. With a triple-loop logo inspired by its heating elements, it became part of the modern age of kitchen appliances.
How did vintage toasters work?
Vintage toasters had one job: to toast bread. They were very simple machines that lacked elaborate circuitry (some models had only a central heating element, which required you to manually flip your bread to toast it on both sides).
Where was the first toaster sold?
The first commercially available toaster was sold in 1909 in the U.S., when Frank Shailor patented his idea for the “D-12” toaster. General Electric ran with the idea and introduced it for use in the home.
Do old toasters contain asbestos?
Asbestos in toasters: During the 50s, 60s and 70s, many toasters were riddled with asbestos that had been used predominately for heat insulation in the body, as well as electrical insulation around the cord.
Why are toasters so expensive?
The biggest difference is the finish, brand name and features. Cheaper toasters often have a plastic exterior, while buying a more expensive brand will get you a stainless steel or fancy finish with some bells and whistles.
What came first toaster or sliced bread?
Believe it or not, the toaster was invented before sliced bread. In 1893, Alan MacMasters of Scotland created an electric device he called the “Eclipse Toaster.” You can imagine why it had limited success, given that sliced bread was not yet invented and electricity itself was not widespread.
It was very popular as a wedding gift, and at $23.50, it wasn’t cheap. Toasters were marketed not only for breakfast, but also for entertaining — hold a toast party to watch CBS Playhouse on TV.
Were toasters available in 1950?
The first spring-driven pop-up toaster was introduced by Toastmaster in 1926. Pop-up toasters from the 1940s and ’50s usually sell to people who want to use them to make toast.
Who invented the pop-up toaster in 1919?
Charles P. Strite was born in Minneapolis and was working in a manufacturing plant in Stillwater, Minnesota, when he invented the first automatic, pop-up toaster.
What is a fun fact about toasters?
The Original Toaster was Invented in 1893. We didn’t get the electric toaster until 1905. That same year inventor Albert Marsh made the Nichrome wire, which made the electric toaster possible.
Why was the toaster important in the 1920s?
The advent of electricity in the home spawned a plethora of gadgets to make life in the kitchen much easier, including the toaster. Women previously relied on manual tools such as toasting forks and racks designed for use over an open fire or gas flame.
How many years should you keep a toaster?
Six to eight years: While toasters can range in price and features, most toasters have an average lifespan from six to eight years. You can extend the life of your appliance by cleaning it regularly to remove excess breadcrumbs and additional food particles.
What was the major flaw of the first toaster?
The first big hurdle for the electric toaster was to find a wire that would conduct heat, but not burn up quickly,” Miller says. Several inventors tried and failed, but it was General Electric in 1909 that created the first commercially successful toaster in the United States.
