1940s Toasters Vintage and Working and Made in the U.S.A.
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Classic Toasters
the 1940s and 50s and later

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Highly polished chromium plating finish

Brian in Houston bought this toaster and wrote to say
I just wanted to let you know I received my toaster yesterday. It looks great, and it makes perfect toast. I am very pleased with it. It is nice to have the choice to buy a vintage American toaster rather than all the new ones made in China. I'll definitely look you up the next time I need another toaster or small appliance. Thank you very much,

Chris from Spring Valley, Ohio bought this toaster as a gift for his mother and wrote to say Thanks for helping me make my 89 year old mother a very happy lady. To have perfectly even toasted thin slice bread in one easy step again after 30 years delights her with every use. The only thing wrong, according to her, is she now has to find a new pet peeve to fuss about. Thanks again,

Toastmaster from the late 1950s

This Toastmaster began production in the late 1950s and continued on into the 1960s. The basic guts are very similar to the hugely popular model that came out after WWII, but the feet and fittings were streamlined and made easier to assemble.

This sturdy toaster has a heavy steel case with chromium plating. It is clean and in very good condition. It is fitted with a new, replacement cord and plug, good for another few dacades of service.

Toastmaster Automatic Pop Up Toaster
Manufactured by McGraw-Edison Co. Elgin, Ill.
Model 1B24 110-120 Volts 10.5 Amps.
Operate on A.C. or D.C.

Shipping Weight: 9 lbs.

$198

Purchase Information

Karen in Rochester, NY bought this toaster with copper plating and wrote to say We received the toaster on Saturday and we are thrilled. Not only does it look spectacular in the copper, but it works great. It is so nice to have a piece of toast in about 1 minute as apposed to heated bread after 5 or 6 minutes in the toaster oven

Toastess circa 1948 from Canada

This manual toaster was produced in large numbers in Canada beginning after after WWII. The doors with an attractive diamond-quilted design are flanked by black plastic door handles. The inside of the toaster has solid copper guard wires surrounding mica plates wound with ribbon resistance wire.

It is completely manual, a simple, non-nonsense toaster; no moving parts except the doors. No decisions to make, just old fashioned vigilance. Comes with a detachable cord set that plugs into the side.

And, it makes pretty good toast.

SOLD

Purchase Information

Toastess Modern Version

The original model was made continuously for decades, literally, until 1998, when for their 50th anniversary, the company put out this model featuring a deluxe base with rubber feet and a cord storage compartment, an On/Off switch, and an attached modern cord with grounded plug.

This one is used, but clean and in very good condition. It is great for Morrocan dinner parties; the toaster sits on the table so everybody gets a freshly hottened pita.

Toastess Modern Version

Shipping Weight: 7 lbs.

$88

Purchase Information

1950s General Electric Automatic Toaster

GE sold a version of this toaster in the 1950s with a slimmed down shell from the previous model, and rounded corners, just like the contemporary 1953 IBM Electric Typewriter, or the new 1953 Lincoln for modern living.

The sides of this model are graced with a three line swish and the controls are located on one end. There is a large door on the bottom for easy crumb removal.

This one is in good condition looking almost new inside and showing modest scratching as emphasized in the picture, and some plating loss just above the bakelite base on one corner. It works just fine.

1950s GE Automatic Toaster
General Electric
Bridgeport, Conn. Ontario, Calif. Made in U.S.A.
115 Volts 1150 Watts AC only UL

Shipping weight 9 Lbs.

SOLD

Purchase Information 		Progress is our most important product.
Made in New York City

Todd in Portland, Oregon bought this toaster and wrote I've never had so much fun with a kitchen appliance before--thanks a million.

The Walking Toaster

The earliest models of this toaster were produced in New York City in 1937, and continued production through the early 1950s at their last location just across the East River in Long Island City, Queens, New York, near the Breyer's ice cream plant. It was billed as "New As Tomorrow"

On one end of the toaster is the Light to Dark control, and on the other end is the On Off switch. The massive base is bakelite and signed nicely on both sides.

You put in bread in one end, watch it going by in the little porthole window, and it comes out toast on the other end. The bread moves through the toaster propelled by a clever mechanism driven by a little motor.

This one is in excellent condition mechanically and cosmetically. It comes with extra long tongs. We've completely serviced this one and it is ready for making the morning toast, or entertaining all the neighbor kids for an after school snack.

The Walking Toaster

Shipping Weight: 10 lbs.

$350

Purchase Information
Narrow footprint

The Thin Line, Push Button Toaster

This toaster is unique for its combination of features.

First of all, the footprint is long and skinny, good for a narrow space to accommodate two regular slices up to 4.75 inches wide side by side. A divider in the middle of the slot prevents putting in long slices, but it helps to keep the crust in the middle from burning to a crisp.

And, it operates with a push of a button, sold as the Touch 'N Toast. (It was so modern in January 1967 when this toaster came out.) To start the toasting, load in two slices, dial the shade, then push the button on the control panel, and the bread descends and toasting begins. Pretty nifty. If you toast just one slice, you must use the side above the control panel marked One Slice.

The shell of the Thinline measures 14.25 inches long and 3.50 inches wide. If you include the control panel and knob the depth is 4.75 inches.

This one is in very good condition with very minor scratching as emphasized in the photos on the top and on one end. It has been disassembled and serviced and adjusted and works properly, It is clean as a whistle inside and out. And, it makes pretty good toast.

Sunbeam Corp. Chicago, U.S.A.
120 Volts 1320 Watts A.C. Only

Shipping weight 8 Lbs.

SOLD

Purchase Information

The Braun Long Slot for Kenmore

Braun came out with a stylish toaster but until I found this one, I didn't know that they also made one for Sears to sell under the Kenmore brand. It was billed as Hi-Speed. This toaster is unique for its one long, undivided slot, good for toasting a baguette or a long piece cut from a large round loaf.

The footprint is long and skinny, only the width of a dollar bill, and a fraction more than fourteen inches end to end. The shell of the toaster shows moderate scratching on the back side but is otherwise in good shape and working order. It has a large crumb door for easy cleaning.

The Braun Long Slot for Kenmore
120 Volts 980 Watts A.C. Only
Sears, Roebuck and Co., U.S.A.
Shipping weight 8 Lbs.

SOLD

Purchase Information 		Very Narrow footprint
Automatic Beyond Belief

Nancy in Washington, D.C. bought this toaster, and then one for her daughter and wrote to say Just wanted you to know the second toaster for my daughter was a big hit. Like mine, it toasts beautifully; and they liked the stylish '50s look, too. What you want in a toaster is un-ostentatious, but perfect, performance -- as provided by these. Happy New Year.

Greg in Sausalito bought this toaster and wrote to sayThe T-20 is a beauty and works like a champ. Thanks for the recommendation and the expert packing.

Jon in Kent, Washington bought this toaster and wrote to sayI ran the toaster and it worked GREAT ! ...I haven't seen a toaster that looks this rugged and well made in years. I'm especially pleased to pay an American for an American product.

Aaron in Mount Vernon, Washington bought this toaster and wrote to say that the toaster works great, I use it almost every day and it has been flawless. Thank You.

Sunbeam model T-20 automatic toaster

Beautiful chrome body with incised deco design and bakelite base. It's automatic beyond belief! No levers to push -- no popping or banging. Just drop in the bread and the Sunbeam turns on the current and lowers the bread silently. When perfectly toasted, the current turns off and the toast comes up silently.

With "Radiant Control", the toasting is always the same no matter what kind of bread you use. The heat radiated from the surface of the bread activates the exclusive thermostat. That's why you always get the same uniform golden toast you want whether the slices or moist or dry, cold or warm, thick or thin.

Very popular as wedding gifts when it debuted in 1949. Slots are a little wider than usual. Cleaned and adjusted and in very good condition.

Sunbeam Corporation
Chicago U.S.A. Toronto, Canada.
110-120 Volts 1275 Watts

Shipping weight 10 Lbs.

$245 (temporarily out of stock)

Purchase Information


Toastmaster 1B14 Post World War II Toaster -- a "Best Value"

This model was in introduced in 1947, built to last, signed and serial numbered, and used continuously for ten or twenty or fifty years by American families. Think of all those GIs, home from the war, marrying their sweethearts and starting families. 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 -- a toast party to watch CBS Playhouse on TV.

But, when the Toast-R-Oven hit the market, most of these "old fashioned" Toastmasters were stored away in the attic or basement, still in working order. (And greasy and full of crumbs, I might add.)

The original advertising features the Superflex toast timer which compensates for a wide range of voltage variations automatically; the bakelite "Easy-Lift" handles are large, smooth and curved to fit the finger tips, always cool to the touch; and, the Pop-open with hinged door on the bottom makes for easy crumb removal and cleaning.

The heavy steel case is plated in highly polished chromium. The fittings are bakelite. The control knob allows a range from light to dark.

This toaster has been disassembled, cleaned, repaired if necessary, reassembled and tested. It is ready to do just one thing.... make toast. It is in good condition with minor cosmetic flaws -- a Toaster Central "best value".

Toastmaster Automatic Pop Up Toaster
Toastmaster Products Division
McGraw Electric Company, Elgin, Illinois U.S.A.
110-120 Volts 10.5 Amps. UL Operates on A.C. or D.C.

Shipping weight 9 Lbs.

SOLD

Purchase Information 		Remember the 3 swooshes on the side? Wedding bells are ringing...

Cristina in Pacific Palisades bought this toaster and wrote to say We are THRILLED with the toaster! It makes perfect toast and is so easy to use and clean. I do not understand why people think that modern toasters need to be electronic -- just more to go wrong and another damn clock to reset when the power fails. Not to mention another gadget that leeches electricity by being on "stand-by". (Why stand by for toast?)

Kay in Soquel, California bought this toaster and wrote to say I glory in my new to me toaster, which is exactly like the one I grew up with. It is the apotheosis of toasterhood in my opinion.

Albert and Carol in Plant City, Florida bought this toaster and wrote to say We have received our Toastmaster 1B14 and could not be more impressed or pleased. Overall it is exactly what we were looking for aesthetically. Beyond that, it appears to be brand new and works flawlessly. I thank you for the extra effort on your part in assuring that the surface is polished and unmarred. Take care and good luck in helping households to have tasty and toasty mornings.

The Brennans in Lakebay, Washington bought this toaster and wrote to say Just wanted to touch base with you and give you some feedback on our toaster. We purchased the 1B14 toaster this past winter. It is the best little appliance we own...Totally consistent and reliable...and it's BEAUTIFUL! Thanks so much for what you do!

The Powermatic from Toastmaster

The Super Deluxe Toastmaster with Power Action

Toastmaster was selling train loads of toasters (the model shown above) after WWII, and Sunbeam was, too, especially because of their radical design in which one simply dropped a slice into the slot and carriage descended automatically. So, Toastmaster wanted a share of that market and designed this very nifty toaster with a motor that takes the bread down and starts the toasting. The ads of the time called it "Power Action" and this model was called The Super Deluxe, and sold at a premium price, just like the Sunbeam.

It has an easy to open crumb door on the bottom for easy cleaning. And, it sports the cartouche that Toastmaster introduced in 1939 (and was on their toasters until the 1990s, but now gone). The early version of this model has a gold-toned signature on the front. There is only one control -- to turn to select the shade of toast, or to push to end the toasting cycle early.

Toastmaster Super Deluxe
Elgin, Illinois Made in U.S.A.

Shipping Weight: 9 lbs.

SOLD

Purchase Information


The Disappearing Toaster

From the age of bell-bottom pants, Bee Gees hits, and muscle cars like the Firebird Trans-Am and Camaro Z28, Toastmaster went a little weird with a toaster that recesses into the wall.

The Building Products Division of Toastmaster collaborated with the Consumer Products division to create a toaster that would not take up ANY counter space. This toaster mounts in a steel outer casing that fits between wall studs. The inside of the case is wired with a receptacle, so the toaster can be unplugged and removed from the shell by lifting some stop catches on the side rails. The neat thing is that the toaster cannot be operated if it is not pulled out completely. There is a cut off switch mounted inside that prevents the current from flowing if the toaster is not fully extended outward.

The toaster is deluxe with separate controls for each pair of slots, and is signed Modern Maid on the face of the toaster. It is in excellent operating condition, perfectly clean and shows some minor imperfections: a small dent in the top of the wall housing frame and some storage scratches; and, some flaws that don't show when the toaster is pushed in include some scratches around the screw heads and some small scratching on the top. And, this toaster passes our scientific toast test in just the right shade.

Ask about the one we have that is in mint condition, was never installed and comes with the original papers. It has also been serviced and tested and guaranteed to work properly.

The Disappearing Toaster
McGraw-Edison Company
Edison Building Products Division
Elgin, Illinois 60120
1600 Watts 120 Volts 60 Hz A.C. UL Listed

Shipping Weight: 17 lbs.

$525

Purchase Information 		Four-in-a-drawer


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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