Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Butter and jam?

I did'nt know there's such thing call online toaster museum, only today that I did my reseach that I found out there is a whole range of toaster! Museum? Really lift up to its name ay? Never belittle a toaster. HA!

It's amazing...
...that a simple technical task - e.g. toasting bread - can be celebrated in so many different ways. I was deeply impressed, how much creativity engineers spent on flipping bread! Being a designer, this fact fascinates and inspires me every day.

That could be one answer of the typical "Why do you collect toasters?"-question I often hear when people see my toaster-wall in my loft. The next point is something I would describe as an "cultural or historical aspect": The design of each single toaster is like a small window to the design trend of the corresponding decade and country. The variety of designs is unbelievable: There are Art Deco and Art Nouveau toasters, raw or crazy technical constructions, streamlined toasters from the 50ies and porcelain pieces matching to the flower patterns of contemporary dinnerware.


SANDA
no type 01 (blue 01)


1930-40s, England
Anodised aluminum, black bakelite
240-250 Volts/500 Watts
Sanda made this kind of unique toaster in different colored versions. In this collection are polished aluminum, anodised gold, blue and green with light gold examples. Notice the simple round bend wire to protect the heating elements from the bread.





Saluta 584 (Red 01)

ca. 1930s, Germany
Red bakelite, nickel plated metal
220 Volts/700 Watts
This is one of the famost rotating toasters. Simply turn the red bakelite knob on top of the toaster to turn all four slices at the same time





A. Mecky Co. Ledig (500)

ca. 1920, USA
Nickel plated metal, black wood
110 Volts/600 Watts
This is a really unusual piece: A Toaster-Cooker. It came with butter pan, sandwhich holder and toast basket. The sides are like headlight reflectors from a car (maybe they are). It has two small heating elements inserted in the reflectors.





Universal E9411 (White)

ca. 1928, USA
Nickel plated metal, white ivory
108-116 Volts/525 Watts
This is the ultimate swinger toaster. Push a button to turn the basket. Push it again, and the basket returns. Universal LFC made another model (E 9410) with a fancy embossed body





West Coast Club Toaster No.1 (Green)

ca. 1930s, USA
Green porcelain, wood, cast iron
110-115 Volts/475 Watts
West Coast made their Club Toaster in different colors: We have seen green, blue and yellow pieces. A similar toaster with enameled body is shown in Helen Greguire's book





Pan Electric Toastrite (Blue Willow)

ca. 1920-30s , USA
Patterned porcelain
110 Volts/ 500 Watts
The pattern of this rare porcelain toaster is called "Blue Willow" and shows a historic Chinese landscape. Pan Electric made two color versions: A blue and a red one




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