New toasters

[fan-of-fans]

Currently have a kenmore toaster bought in 2008 that has been pretty good. But now turns on when plugged in-does not stop when lever up and buttons don't respond. I've been seeing these auto lower/lift toasters and they seem really cool. Are they any good?

May just get a cheapo, had a few and seemed to last. Only replaced as they got grungy.

 

[ea56]

Get yourself a vintage Sunbeam Toastmaster and you'll never need to buy another toaster again. Checkout ebay for purchasing one. Also, you can read many articles about them online by doing a google search. These toasters are beautiful and make excellent toast.
Eddie

 

[gusherb]

Aside from vintage I like the plain white basic Cuisinart toaster I have. Makes nice and evenly browned toast, even bagels. Not sure if the newer version of it is still any good though, I bought mine in 2010. My grandmother had one from approx. 2002 that worked just as well as mine.

 

[rp2813]

I agree with Eddie about the Sunbeam Radiant Control toasters that automatically lower and raise the bread.  I've never owned a toaster that rendered more perfect results, first time, every time.

 

A couple of things to consider about these Sunbeams is that they are best when given plain white bread to toast, and things like bagels may be too thick to fit.

 

Prices can be all over the map.  I got one of mine at an estate sale many years ago, and more recently picked one up at at thrift store.  One is a T-30 model (pictured) and the other a later type with sliding lever mounted on the front to adjust shading.  I paid less than $10 for each one.

 

I'm not sure if Sunbeam still produces these.  If so, they are likely made in China and quality may not be what it was 20 or more years ago.

 

 

 

 

[gansky1]

I love my vintage GE Toast-R-Oven, great size and great results every time.

I was given a "non-working" less than one year old KitchenAid 4 slice toaster a while back by a friend. I pulled out 1/4 of a bagel stuck in the mechanism and function was instantly restored. That was a very impressive toaster and after playing with it a few times here, I sent it to Jon to use at his Cape Cod house where the toaster gets regular use and abuse by tenants during the rental season. He'll have to finish up the review from there, but I know several others that have KA toasters and love them. The best part of the KA was the high wattage making it powerful and faster than other 4 slice models. I have also heard good things about the Cuisinart toasters as well.

 

[petek]

I've no idea how many toasters I have, maybe a couple of dozen in the collection. Some are duds and some winners.  However thee best hands down which we use daily is the Panasonic FlashXpress toaster oven. It's very simple to use, fairly fast, instant heat because it's infra red heating elements. And best of all it's not very big but holds 4 slices.. doesn't really take up much more room than a regular toaster.  It'll cook a tray of frozen fries from frozen in about 12 minutes.  I bought it for my mom (a true non gadget freak) about 6 or so years ago...I took it when she moved and have had not probems with it.. She really liked it as well and that's saying something coming from her. 

Amazon.com

 

[northwesty]

Sunbeam

I agree the Sunbeam is the coolest toaster ever, but the older the better as the one with the sliding lever can wear out and can't be fixed. the one with the dial at the end is made before "planned obsolescence" and will last probably 100 years, or another 20 years or so.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I just want a Toasting Level knob that doesn't easily turn...  Real, solid turning... And staying at one Heating Level...

 

Sometimes wish I had a four-slicer & I even entertain a toaster OVEN--which I'd returned upon receiving & prior to opening our wedding set--thinking it would take up too much counter-space and that I could use the conventional oven for "toaster oven toasting"... So, then, stuck w/ our two-slice pop-up & happy to have extra room on my even-smaller kitchen counter, compared to the earlier one in our apartment which was a bit more spacious...

 

 

-- Dave

 

[abcomatic]

1930's toastmaster

I have my grandmother's 1930's Toastmaster and it still works like a charm. It has some sort of timer in it and according to how dark you want the toast the timer works longer. It has a "tick, tick, tick" sound to it and the toast flies up when done. Gary

 

[ovrphil]

Hi Cole - Just do it - get one of the self-lowering if you can find a good price. Like rp2813(Ralph)said, prices vary. I have a couple Sunbeam self-lowering. The results with toast(white or wheat)has been perfect. A neighbor, in the 1960's, had a cool four-slice self-lowering toaster. I wish I could find one of those. Anyone have one of these? Who made them?

Hope you find a toaster you like, but self-lowering Sunbeams are usually rock-solid. Here's a couple of links some will know about, that I like for Sunbeam toasters:

1)http://www.automaticbeyondbelief.org/ and check out the gallery link on the left.

2)http://www.toaster.org/t20.html

Ebay: http://www.ebay.tv/sch/i.html?_sop=3&_nkw=sunbeam+radiant+toaster&_frs=1

http://www.ebay.tv/sch/i.html?_sop=3&_nkw=sunbeam+radiant+toaster&_frs=1

Good luck!

 

[northwesty]

4 slice toasters

Just thought I would share the 4 slice toasters I have currently in my kitchen, that "new" proctor is likely to become the daily driver though the Mary Proctor is currently the one, that Toastmaster is probably the best of the bunch. SO if you come across one you might pick it up as you can never know when company might come by and it will come in handy. Thanks for looking. Brian

 

[washerboy]

white westinghouse

I'm a little embarassed to admitt this..but in 1999 when I divorced and my son and I moved out on our own the last thing I thought I needed was a toaster. It seemed like every day my son was either wanting toast or a poptart. Money was very tight so on payday I went to K-Mart and bought a 2 slice Westinghouse toaster...for the huge sum of 10.00!! That was 16 years ago and the thing is still going strong!

 

[tolivac]

I have a Proctor Silex 4 slice machine that I bought from a yard sale-its OLD-but works perfectly-best toaster I have.My Mom used to have a Sunbeam one-keep prying the yard sales for one-no luck.Guess these are so good that folks keep those.

 

[norgeway]

Guess where?????

Proctor Silex toasters were made from the late 50s thru the 80s....MtAiry North Carolina, the home of Andy Griffith!

 

[tolivac]

Good to know-the one I have is a really good unit.One of those best yard sale finds!The yard sale was from a retired GUC power lineman-sadly he died not too long ago.Was a great guy!He provided footballs for the youth leagues.

 

[sudsmaster]

KA makes a two or four slice toaster with auto bread lowering and raising.

 

I have the four slice version, albeit with manual action. It's OK, although I rarely use more than two slots, and I've noticed the spring for the side that gets the most use is a bit anemic... failing to raise the finished bread (usually burger buns) to full height. I have thought of replacing the spring with a more powerful version, but then I had to return the first unit to Costco because the darn toast lever wouldn't engage when pressed down.

 

I also have one of the ill-fated "Arize" glass wall toasters. These are fun to watch but only work with standard bread slices - burger buns would be right out.

 

Have looked at the Panasonic flash toaster ovens but the Cuisinart toaster oven works so well with everything but bread I have hesitated to get yet another kitchen gadget.

 

 

[countryguy]

I have the Kitchen Aid 4 slice toaster with automatic lowering/raising. It takes so long to toast and the toast is hard. Toasting a bagel takes close to 10 minutes I think.

Gary

 

[mrb627]

Motorized Toaster

I bought the Cuisinart two slice toaster with motorized start/stop. I bought it after I gave away the slow as molasses toaster oven. I have been happy with it so far.

Malcolm

 

[artcurus]

I love my old General Mills toaster from the late 40's.It toast in two stages, you put the toast in, about 2 minutes after it starts, it clicks and goes to a higher temp. Makes the best toast in the world, aside from toaster oven.

Found mine at a thrift store in Alpine, Tx. The cord was completely shot and replaced with the correct cord.

looks like this

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