Umair Gaines
The 1920s electric toaster was a symbol of modernity and a testament to the machine age that transformed the look of America. It represented the culmination of decades of innovation in toaster technology, from the early days of wood and coal stoves to the invention of the first stand-alone electric toaster in 1893. By the 1920s, electric companies were offering 24-hour services, and the demand for labour-saving appliances was on the rise. This led to the development of improved toaster models, with sliding drawers, mechanical bread turning mechanisms, and eventually, the first automatic pop-up toaster, conceived by Charles Strite in 1919 and brought to market in 1926 by the Waters-Genter Company as the Toastmaster.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1920s |
| Inventor | Charles Strite |
| Number of Slices | Four |
| Features | Spring, motor, built-in timer |
| Material | Chromium plating over steel |
| Design | Cage-like with a single heating element |
| Functionality | To toast two sides of the slice without handling the bread |
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What You'll Learn
The first electric toasters
The early 20th century saw the emergence of the first electric toasters, which replaced the traditional method of toasting bread over a fire or stove. The first stand-alone electric toaster, the Eclipse, was invented in 1893 by Crompton & Company of Chelmsford, Essex. This early design toasted bread on only one side and lacked the automatic features that would later define the electric toaster.
In 1905, a young engineer named Albert Marsh invented Nichrome, an alloy of nickel and chromium, which could be easily shaped into wires or strips and had low electrical conductivity. This invention paved the way for the development of more advanced electric toasters. In 1909, Frank Shailor of General Electric introduced the first successful electric toaster, the GE model D-12, which used Nichrome wire as its heating element. However, this toaster still required manual flipping of the bread to toast both sides.
The race to create an automatic electric toaster that could toast bread evenly on both sides without manual intervention began. In 1919, Charles Strite, a mechanic from Stillwater, Minnesota, patented his design for an automatic electric toaster with a built-in timer. Strite initially custom-built four-slice units for restaurants and later partnered with businessmen Glen Waters and Harold Center to form the Waters-Center Company in 1921. They set out to design a more compact model suitable for home use, aiming to bring convenience and modernity to American kitchens.
In 1925, the Waters-Center Company registered the name "Toastmaster" for their upcoming toaster model. However, before they could bring it to market, an entrepreneur named Max McGraw purchased the company in 1926, forming the McGraw Electric Company. McGraw revived the small-toaster concept and streamlined manufacturing costs, leading to the release of the Model 1Al Toastmaster. This toaster was the first automatic, pop-up toaster designed for domestic use, capturing the imagination of American consumers. With its sleek design, chrome plating, and promise of convenience, the Toastmaster symbolised modernity and represented a shift towards labour-saving appliances in the home.
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The 1920s toaster design
One of the key innovations in the 1920s toaster design was the introduction of the automatic pop-up toaster, which was patented by Charles Strite in 1921. This design included a spring, motor, and switch for a built-in timer that automatically shut off the heating element and released the toast when it was done. This toaster could process four slices at a time and was produced by the Waters-Center Company, later renamed the Waters-Genter Company. The toaster was called the "Toastmaster" and became available to the public in 1926, becoming a huge success.
The Toastmaster featured a compact nickel-plated design, with horizontal vents on the sides suggesting speed and an aerodynamic curve to the top. It had two black control levers, one for the current and one for the timer. This toaster represented a modern style that was ahistorical, nontraditional, and non-European. It was a symbol of applied industrialization and modernity for consumers.
Another notable design from the 1920s was the Westinghouse toaster, which had a unique mechanism that allowed users to turn each cage to toast two sides of the slice without handling the bread. This toaster had chromium plating over steel, reflecting the advancements in the chrome plating process during that time. The Westinghouse toaster is an example of the elegant and functional designs that emerged during the 1920s, improving the efficiency and convenience of the toasting experience.
Overall, the 1920s toaster design represented a significant shift towards modern, automated, and aesthetically pleasing appliances. The innovations of the time, such as built-in timers, automatic pop-up features, and chrome plating, shaped the future of toaster design and contributed to the growing culture of labour-saving electric appliances in the home.
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How the toaster worked
The 1920s electric toaster was a symbol of modernity, marking a shift in the look of America during the machine age. It offered a new, convenient way to make toast, doing away with the need for open fires, stoves, and manual flipping of the bread.
The Toastmaster, introduced in 1926, was the first automatic, pop-up toaster designed for domestic use. It featured a sleek, compact design with nickel plating, reflecting the trend toward shiny simplicity. This toaster had two black control levers—one to activate the current and the other to set the timer.
To operate the toaster, a slice of bread was inserted into a slot at the top. A lever on the side was then pressed, lowering the bread into the toaster and activating the heating elements. The heating elements were made of nichrome wire, an alloy of nickel and chromium invented by Albert Marsh in 1905, which could withstand high temperatures without melting or becoming brittle.
The toaster's built-in timer controlled the duration of the toasting cycle, allowing for adjustable levels of browning. Once the timer determined that the toast was ready, the heating elements turned off, and the toast popped up out of the slots, ready to be enjoyed.
The Toastmaster revolutionized breakfast routines, offering convenience and consistency in the toasting process. While it may not have always delivered "perfect toast," as advertised, it certainly captivated American consumers and became a staple appliance in households across the country.
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The Toastmaster toaster
The Waters-Center Company, formed by Strite and two businessmen, Glen Waters and Harold Center (or Genter), produced the first Toastmaster toasters. However, they could only manufacture one unit per day. In 1926, an entrepreneur named Max McGraw purchased the company, now called the Waters-Genter Company, and cut manufacturing costs to a workable level. This allowed the Toastmaster toaster to enter the mass market.
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The impact of the toaster
The invention of the electric toaster in the 1920s had a significant impact on society and popular culture. Firstly, it revolutionized breakfast routines and reduced the need for manual labour in the kitchen. Before the electric toaster, toasting bread involved cumbersome methods such as using long-handled toasting forks or metal frames held over fires or stoves. The electric toaster's automatic pop-up mechanism, built-in timer, and ability to toast multiple slices simultaneously, offered convenience and efficiency, freeing up time for people in their daily routines.
Secondly, the toaster became a symbol of modernity and industrialization. Its sleek and shiny design, often featuring nickel plating and horizontal vents, embodied the aesthetic of the machine age. The toaster represented America's advancement in technology and industrial design, attracting attention from Europeans who now looked to America for cultural inspiration. The toaster's mass production and widespread adoption also contributed to the growth of electrical companies, as they began offering 24-hour electrical services to meet the increasing demand for labour-saving appliances.
Moreover, the toaster's impact extended beyond the functional, becoming a cultural icon. Its unique design inspired artwork, fashion, and popular culture references. Artists like Arne Felix Magold used toasted bread as pixels to create artwork, showcasing the toaster's influence on creative expression. The toaster's popularity also led to brand identification, with "Toastmaster" becoming synonymous with the product, much like Jell-O and Kleenex.
Lastly, the toaster's invention sparked continued innovation in the appliance industry. Over time, toaster designs evolved to include sliding drawers, mechanical bread turning mechanisms, and temperature sensors for precise toasting. The development of heat-resistant plastics in the 1980s further expanded design possibilities, introducing colourful and rounded toaster models. Today, "smart toasters" with microchip technology can toast a variety of baked goods to perfection, demonstrating the ongoing evolution of toaster technology to meet consumer demands.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1920s electric toaster was a compact, nickel-plated unit with a row of horizontal vents on the sides and an aerodynamic curve on top. It had two black control levers, one for the current and one for the timer.
The 1920s electric toaster used a heating element made of nichrome wire to generate heat and toast the bread to the desired level of crispiness. The length of the toasting cycle was adjustable via a lever, knob, or pushbuttons. When the toast was done, it would pop up out of the slots.
The 1920s electric toaster was invented by several people, including Charles Strite, who patented his design for an automatic electric toaster in 1919, and Frank Shailor of General Electric, who introduced the first successful electric toaster in 1909.
The 1920s electric toaster was an improvement over previous toasters, which were often cumbersome and required careful timing. The new toaster was automatic, with a built-in timer that shut off the heating element and released a pop-up spring when the toast was done.
