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Electric Toasters Made in the U.S.A. during the depression years: 1930s

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Sunbeam model T-9 automatic pop-up

Peerless for design and quality, the T-9 has an incised design surrounding a glass jewel on the face of the toaster finished with bakelite handles and base. Controls for Light/Dark, as well as "Keeps Toast Warm" or "Pops Toast Up". It has a large, easy-to-open crumb door.

This model is in the permanent design collection of several museums. And, you can have one of your own, or give one as a special gift, clean as a whistle, working as it did originally when it was brand new. It has been fully refurbished and good to go. This is an especially good choice for customers looking for good value, a toaster not made in China, and an alternative to replacing a toaster every year or two..

Sunbeam Corporation
Chicago U.S.A. Toronto, Canada,
110-120 Volts 1100 Watts.

SOLD

Purchase Information 		The Sunbeam T9 toaster is an example of American manufacturing at its zenith.


One of the least common of the Sunbeams

Sunbeam Silent Automatic Toaster circa 1938

In between the T1 and more famous T9, this toaster was made for a short time only; I've seen it advertised in 1938. The distinctive faceted glass jewel set in the face of the toaster glows orange during the toasting cycle.

It is also a pre-pop-up model, so after the toasting cycle has ended automatically according to the light/dark setting, one raises the handle (signed Sunbeam) manually to lift the toast.

I've used this toaster and can attest that if you use a dense, dark whole wheat bread, you'll never have to put it through twice! This toaster is capable of producing lightly toasted fluffy white bread all the way to darkly toasted dense, whole wheat or multi-grain bread. Aside from a small chip, this one is in superb condition, with most sumptuous shoulders, and ninety-nine percent of the original decals. It comes with a detachable cord set that plugs in the back.

Sunbeam Silent Automatic Toaster 1938

Shipping weight 10 Lbs.

$575

Purchase Information

Sunbeam Silent Automatic Toaster, mid-1930s

You'd never know that this toaster arrived during the depression years. This statuesque, two-slice toaster is automatic but not pop-up. When the toast is done, the toasting panels turn off automatically. When you want your toast, simply raise the handle. It uses a bimetal timing mechanism rather than a clockworks hence the name "Silent Automatic."

It has been completedly disassembled, derusted, terminals cleaned, nuts and bolts replaced with stainless steel where necessary, the carriage mechanism lubricated, and the bimetal blades calibrated.

The beautiful chrome body with bakelite handles sits on an ornate bakelite base. It features a faceted glass jewel set in the front that glows orange when the toaster is in operation. It comes with a detachable cord set which plugs in at the center of the back.

The case on this one shows light scratching, consistent with being wiped down, and as is common with this model, the base has an inconsipicuous crack along a seam.

Sunbeam Silent Automatic Toaster
Chicago Flexible Shaft Company
Chicago U.S.A.
110-120 Volts 875 Watts

Shipping weight 10 Lbs.

$350

Purchase Information		 Perfect Anniversary Gift
The most beautiful toaster ever made in the U.S.A.

1934 Toastmaster Automatic Pop-up Toaster

"Cheek to Cheek" by Irving Berlin topped the charts and "42nd Street" was running on Broadway when Toastmaster produced this stunning architectural design with that could have been a Busby Berkeley set.

It has a clockwork timer that ticks, with settings from light to dark. Two thumb screws make the bottom cover easy to remove for crumb extraction.

This one is in good condition with minor signs of wear and use, mostly light scratching from daily use. It has been fitted with a new black neoprene replacement cord. If you want a vintage cord, please ask.

Produced 1934 until 1939 by McGraw Electric Company
Water-Genters Div. Mpls, Minn. U.S.A.
Made in Elgin, Ill. for the last years of production

Shipping weight 7 Lbs.

$125

Purchase Information

1936 Toastmaster Automatic Pop Up Toaster

"Over the Rainbow" topped the hit parade for 15 weeks the year Toastmaster came out with a toaster that would do Auntie Em proud. It has a chrome body with incised parallel lines that wrap around the corners and sits on a graceful bakelite base. The top of the toaster slopes toward the push-down lever side. A light/dark knob controls the clockwork timing mechanism. Cost in 1937 was $16.

Toastmaster Automatic Pop Up Toaster
McGraw Electric Company,
Toastmaster Products Div. MPLS MINN U.S.A.,
110 Volts 1100 Watts.

Shipping weight 9 Lbs.

$149

Purchase Information

Special Edition of hammered aluminum

Wendell August Forge produced special cases
of hammered aluminum with wonderful wheat motif.

We can offer for sale the hard to find toaster,
and even scarcer complete hostess set:
folding stand and large stand tray,
two lap trays and the butter dish
with a scene of wheat fields
receding into the distance.

Prices available upon request. 		The Toastmaster Hospitality Set by August Wendell Forge circa 1937 The Toastmaster Hospitality Set by August Wendell Forge circa 1937
1939 Toastmaster with ticking clock

1939 Toastmaster Single Slice Automatic Pop Up Toaster

This is the very first model, along with the more standard two slice version, that carried the famous Toastmaster cartouche with the three loops. Alas, new toasters with that brand no longer carry the cartouche.

And, this is the last of the Toastmaster models that contains a clockworks mechanism, so that when you press down on the lever, you are winding a clock spring. There is one control knob for Light to Dark beneath the push down lever. This one is in very good condition and retains its original cord.

1939 Single Slice Toastmaster
McGraw Electric Company,
Toastmaster Products Div. Elgin, Ill. U.S.A.,
110-120 Volts 6 Amps

Shipping weight 6 Lbs.

$139

Purchase Information

The Slider by Dominion

Dominion made this toaster as an advance over the entirely manual, two-slice flopper style that toasts two slices at once, but only one side of each slice at a time. This one is an oven type toaster that toasts both sides of one slice at one time.

As a toaster, it will brown bread, but it's more of a toast contraption to be used only accasionally, if at all. This is a suitable gift for a toaster collector, patent lawyer, native of Minneapolis, relative of the Lifson and Shaffer families (central founders of the company with Canadian roots), and just anyone fascinated by vintage electricals.

It heats up as soon as you plug in the removable cord set. Then one cocks a lever that winds a clock and also closes two vertical flaps to cover the side of the toasting chamber. Drop in the bread and you're toasting.

Inside the toaster, the floor of the chamber is on a steep angle, sloping down the ramp, so when the toasting cycle ends, and the spring-loaded vertical doors snap open, the finished toast slides out and down the ramp and remains standing. It's a toaster with a built-in toast rack!

I am not sure when it was made; I suspect it was in the mid-1920s because of the early style name badge, but certainly before 1935 when, according to Antique Electric Waffle Irons 1900-1960, the company moved to Mansfield, Ohio. By the mid-1920s, Toastmaster had its original pop up, single-slice toaster on the market, and it had the advantage of turning the current on and off automatically -- no need to plug and unplug, and it was hugely popular, and hundreds of thousands were made and sold. In contrast, very few of the Dominion slider were sold and are quite scarce today.

This one is in good condition and complete. There is light pitting on the horizontal platform. The elements heat properly but the clock struggles and tends to stop prematurely, requiring a jiggle, so this one is sold as is, and not as a proper working toaster.

Dominion Slider
Dependable Dominio Devices
Dominion Electrical Mfg. Co.
Minneapolis, Minn.
110 Volts 550 Watts

Shipping weight 9 Lbs.

$775

Purchase Information		 Scarce toaster
General Electric with Parallel Lines Design

Parallel Lines Toaster from GE


This General Electric manual toaster from the 1930s has a black enamel body and doors with a design of parallel lines on the diagonal. It is clean and working and shows very modest wear. It comes with a detachable cord set.

Parallel Lines Toaster from General Electric

Shipping weight 6 Lbs.

$75

Purchase Information
Ornate design

The Universal Turn-Easy Toaster from 1933

This beautiful toaster was a show piece when it was new, and can still hold its own. The extra fancy work on the sides and top says "Look at Me! I'm special." It is called a "Turn-Easy" because the bread will reverse sides by simply opening the door. There is no need to touch the bread to turn the slice over.

Universal was selling a whole line of appliances as "time-saving, labor-saving devices each of which will enable you to do some household task in an easier and better way." They promised that each piece was first quality in workmanship and materials. This piece sports an attractive name badge.

This toaster is in overall good condition with some scratching to both the top and to the base, as emphasized in the pictures. It comes with a detachable cord set.

Universal - "The Brand Name Known In Every Home"
Landers, Frary & Clark New Britain, Conn. U.S.A.
110-120 Volts 625 Watts

SOLD

Purchase Information

Universal Turn-Easy Toaster from the mid-1930s

This beautiful toaster has very high-quality chromium plating which is still in good condition. The pierced open work on the doors and on top make for an appealing design. I see a stylized fleur de lis.

It is called a "Turn-Easy" because the bread will reverse sides by simply opening the door. There is no need to touch the bread to turn the slice over.

Universal was selling a whole line of appliances as "time-saving, labor-saving devices each of which will enable you to do some household task in an easier and better way." They promised that each piece was first quality in workmanship and materials.

This toaster is in overall good condition with some scratching. It comes with a detachable cord set.

Wayne from Stafford Spring, Connecticut bought this toaster as a gift and wrote to say Thank you for the toaster it is 100 times better that the first one I purchased on e-bay. It brings memories of a simpler time and I have the perfect person to give it to. I look forward to doing business with you in the future.

Universal - "The Brand Name Known In Every Home"
Landers, Frary & Clark New Britain, Conn. U.S.A.
110-120 Volts 625 Watts

SOLD

Purchase Information		 The brand name known in every home.

Home. . . 1920s. . . 1930s. . . 1940s & Later. . . Non electric. . . 220 Volt. . .
Waffle Irons. . . Corn Poppers. . . Fryers. . . Egg Cookers. . . Other. . .
Kitchen Props . . . Toast Racks. . . toasterNotes Cards. . .
Repair Service. . . Replacement Cord Sets. . . FAQ. . . Links. . .

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