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Classic Toasters: the 1940s and 50s and later
Home. . .
1920s. . .
1930s. . .
1940s & later. . .
Non electric. . .
220 Volt. . .
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 The reflection is in honor my good friend Nell Norris, now ninety and moving to Austin. Go Nell! It is an oil painting she did for me. |
Sunbeam model T-20 automatic toasterBeautiful 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. It is automatic beyond belief.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 $198Purchase 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 only minor cosmetic flaws -- a Toaster Central "best value". Ask about the one we have that is mint, never used, and complete with the original carton, guarantee card, and instruction booklet hang tag with original string. Wowie! Toastmaster Products Division McGraw Electric Company, Elgin, Illinois. $98Purchase Information |
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The Super Deluxe Toastmaster with Power ActionToastmaster 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. This one is in very good condition and comes with an original carton. There's an inner sleeve and outer carton with flaps torn off. Toastmaster Super Deluxe Elgin, Illinois Made in U.S.A. $160Purchase Information |
The Super Deluxe Toastmaster with Power Action -- later versionBy 1954, the Powermatic lost the gold signature and it was replaced with a plain incised signature, sleeker really.This one retains its original cord and plug, is in very good condition top to bottom, and comes with it's original carton with some abuse and missing end flaps. I just finished cleaning one in very good condition except for a small dent in the top without the carton for $98. Toastmaster Super Deluxe -- later version Elgin, Illinois Made in U.S.A. $160Purchase Information |
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Toastmaster Powermatic Three Slice ToasterBy 1959, club sandwiches were all the rage, using three slices of toast, and then there was a three-slice Powermatic. Not many sold because they were pricey, and I'm glad to have one to offer for sale.This one is in very good condition with some deterioration to the inside of the bottom cover. Toastmaster Powermatic Three Slice Toaster Manufactured by McGraw-Edison Co. Elgin, Ill. Shipping Weight 9 Lbs. $200Purchase Information |
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Toastmaster from the late 1950sThis 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 is a durable appliance, built to last, and made in the U.S.A. If you refuse to buy a toaster made in China, this is a good choice.This one is very clean inside and out, and in excellent condition. Never again will you have to send the slices through twice. 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. $125Purchase Information |
Toastmaster Sovereign 1962 ModelHere's a Toastmaster Sovereign with concave long sides made of brushed steel. The controls are located "up front where they belong" on the long side, including a little lever to end the toasting manually.It is easy to keep this toaster clean because of the hinged crumb door on the bottom. Aside from some broken lettering on the signature the condition is good with minor signs of use. According to one reader, this toaster was a new model advertised in December 1961 as a new 1962 model, sort of like automobiles. Toastmaster Automatic Toaster Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. Model No. B112 110-120 Volts 8.3 Amps operates on 50-60 Cycles A.C. Only Manufactured by Toastmaster Division McGraw-Edison Co. Elgin, Ill. U.S.A. SOLDPurchase Information |
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The Toastmaster ImperialThis is the last of the Powermatic Toastmasters which use an electric motor to lower the bread instead of a pushdown lever. Just drop in the bread and the toaster lowers the carriage and starts and ends the toasting automatically. The carriage returns to the starting position via dampened spring action.This one is mechanically sound, works well but shows degradation to the front panel, most notably the signature. Toastmaster Imperial Automatic Toaster $156 |
Clamshell Toaster from UniversalThis compact toaster was one of the last of the great toasters from this company which was eventually bought by General Electric.The body is constructed of heavy-gauge steel that is plated with chromium. The short pedestal base and side handles are shiny brown bakelite. It is fitted it with a matching brown cord. One side handle is stationary, but the other side handle turns 90 degrees to open both doors The doors are held closed by spring action, and this toaster can accommodate thick breads, muffins and even half a bagel. Even though the door might not close all the way, the surface is held up to the guidewires and heat panels. The doors have an incised design with three parallel waves running horizontally and straight lines vertically topped by a little chevron pointing down. This toaster is in good condition showing only minor signs of wear. It measures 8" high, 10" wide and 5" deep. Universal Landers, Frary & Clark New Britain, Conn. Made in U.S.A. SOLDPurchase Information |
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Dominion manual toasterThe four handles are shaped like bullets with ribbing, and the inner mica panels are wrapped with nickel chromium wire. Each door is decorated with five vertical lines flanked by five wheat kernels--a stylized sheaf. The body sits on a step-down base and rises toward a rounded point at the top. Quite a striking shape.Dominion Electric Corporation, Mansfield, Ohio, U.S.A. 110-120 Volts 450 Watts $90Purchase Information |
Manning-Bowman toaster with Ivory Colored FittingsThis toaster was made in 1940 in Meriden, Connecticut by workers who would soon stop making domestic goods and switch to making munitions and material for Allied forces of World War II.Manning-Bowman Company in Meriden, Connecticut had a long history of manufacturing high quality goods, and they didn't skimp on superb designs. (Thanks to Rich H. in Palo Alto for the image of the MB factory) I would call this toaster very deluxe with its formal and very understated design, set apart by the ivory colored knobs and feet and the very uncommon On/Off switch. It is in very good condition on the outside except for one chipped foott, and there is a very small amount of corrosion inside the doors. It works just fine and comes with a detachable cord set. SOLDPurchase Information |
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All Aluminum -- Good for RV or TrailerAfter World War II, when there was a surplus of sheet aluminum from fabricating war planes, quite a few little toasters appeared that were made with an aluminum frame and doors. This one weighs just 20 ounces, is unmarked, but I've seen an identical one that was made in New York City.Its profile is a wedge shape five inches wide at the base and the doors sport three staggered parallel lines, the motif of speed and motion. So, it must be a toaster for those on the go. This toaster is in very good condition inside and out. It comes with a detachable cord set. All Aluminum Toaster (unmarked) $65Purchase Information |
Toastswell Four Slice Pop-up ToasterThis toaster was made in St. Louis, Missouri in the late 1940s and 1950s, distintive for its bulging shape like a loaf of bread.It has a ticking timer, which is very, very quiet. I made four slices in it as a test, with acceptable toast on both sides of the slices. I don't have any others, and am selling this one 'as is' because I don't have parts for repairs if it should fail. Also, the cord is frayed in one spot about a foot from the plug which I've left alone -- it seems a shame not to leave it all original if you aren't going to use it. Otherwise in very good condition. $69Purchase Information |
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