History of the Toaster
(From the New York Times Sunday magazine)
The first electric toaster appeared in 1909. It toasted one side at a time and required constant vigilance: when the toast was done, you pulled the plug. The first automatic electric toaster was designed in 1919 by Charles Strite, a man sick and tired of burned toast. Americans were skeptical at first about investing in a single-function appliance, but prices dropped and — such is the allure of toasted bread — sales mushroomed. From 1922 to 1930 sales tripled, from 400,000 units to 1,200,000, thanks in part to the introduction of sliced bread by Wonder. Toasters now live in 88 percent of American homes; the tiny chrome hearth on the counter may well be the one object that pleases most of the people most of the time.
July 23rd, 2006 at 2:47 pm
I work for a rock and mineral museum and would like to know if mica is still being used in making toasters today?
Thank you for your reply.
Donna Thompson
November 21st, 2006 at 12:24 pm
Yes…mica is still used in most toasters today!
cheers
November 22nd, 2006 at 10:24 am
I don’t know where I would be without a toaster today…
Oh and mica is only used in a few toasters, i think…
January 9th, 2007 at 9:46 am
i think that this website is so awesome! it makes me fell good that people appericate toasters as much as i do!
April 5th, 2007 at 11:43 am
i love toasters!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 16th, 2007 at 1:26 am
Crumpets would woop toast in a breakfast battle. YAHYAH
May 23rd, 2007 at 6:12 pm
CRUMPETS TOTALLY WOULD DESTROY TOAST IN A BREAKFAST BATTLE W00T!!
June 11th, 2007 at 8:59 am
dr.mercanfellow Says:
April 5th, 2007 at 11:43 am
i love toasters!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me too
September 10th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
i love toasters!
October 7th, 2007 at 6:45 pm
thats wil make an interesting thing for a school project
November 3rd, 2007 at 6:49 am
why is everyone so hyped about a toaster? it’s only a toaster that toasts bread! come on!
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:57 am
toasters are pretty fantastic
March 17th, 2008 at 5:47 am
tosters are sooo cool! they make my life just ohh so much easier!!!! go toasters!!! yea!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 17th, 2008 at 5:52 am
omg omg omg omg, i am the head of all my toaster fan clubs, nobody really understands what a GREAT accomplishment the toaster is, though i’m glad people who DO understand have a place to freely express their love for the worlds greatest invention. I would also like to state that i named 3 of my 4 children toast, toasty, and for the ladies…. senior toasty toast……. yes, they are great, but in order for them to be perfect i will someday make them part toaster. thank you for your time and KEEP THE TOASTER LOVE ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 12th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Oh man, toasters are ****ing awesome! In my last apartment I had none… I had to toast my toasts in an IKEA PAN!!! OMG! I hated that! It took ages and it never turned out right. I LOVE TOASTERS!
October 12th, 2008 at 6:11 am
Mmmmm! Toast!