Sunbeam "Radiant Control" T20-C Vintage toaster.

[~sudsshane]

I have decided to splurge and treat myself to a "new" vintage toaster. The seller says it is in excellent condition.
The T20-C, which is the model I bought was manufactured in 1957 & 58 only. It has a really neat art deco design from the World's Fair on the front, and a cloth cord.

Is anyone familiar with this model toaster? If so, please share your comments and stories.

Thanks!

 

[~sudsshane]

pic 1

lovely!

 

[~sudsshane]

pic

This is not the actual pic of the toaster I bought.
It is the exact model as mine, and looks to be in very similar " mint" condition.

I will post some pics when I receive the toaster.

 

[volvoguy87]

You won't be sorry.

Fantastic toast every time and automatic beyond belief. Also, fixable if it breaks. Don't turn it upside down.

Dave

 

[petek]

I collect em all. Here they are in order, yours on the far left, then the deco design disappeared, then the controls moved to the front instead of the sides on all future models. They're probably the best toaster made but they can be tempermental at times and do need adjustments ever so rarely. Luckily you can do it yourself and there's a website devoted to them that walks you thru.

 

[gredmondson]

Such a neat toaster!

We had this toaster when I was growing up in the 50s. I thought it was so neat that it not only automatically lowered the bread to be toasted, but it also knew when you put in some toast that just needed to be reheated. How did it know??

 

[aussie-plugs]

Where's the website?

I'd love to see the site devoted to them. I threw mine away many years ago (before I found this site, unfortunately) because it got too temperamental. So sad to know that with some TLC it could have been resurrected.

On the bright side, I know my mum's from the mid-70's is sitting in the garage. Perhaps I can cheer it up a bit and return to decent, perfectly cooked toast instead of the warmed-on-one-side burnt-on-the-other that I'm forced to endure now.

 

[ronhic]

Website

Someone else posted the site the other day...so I added it to my favs...

So here you go Nick...

Gallery

 

[chuffle]

I'm still using

the toaster that my parents received when they were married in 1954. The power cord has been replaced a few times, and the toast lowering mechanism gets cranky now and then, but it still works like a charm...and looks great on the counter to boot!

Enjoy your "new" one!

Joe

 

[polkanut]

Shane,

Our Sunbeam T-20B was a daily driver for my in-laws after they received theirs as a housewarming gift in 1957, and now for my wife & I when we inherited it in 2001 after my mother-in-law passed away. You will wonder how you lived without one this long, perfect toast practically every time, and fast.

 

[58limited]

My aunt and uncle still use the one that they received as a wedding gift in the late 1940s. I have two and love them.

 

[perc-o-prince]

We use ours as a daily driver!! I collect toasters and I like the sunbeam the best!!!

Enjoy it

Rich

 

[swestoyz]

My T-20B is a daily driver! Makes the best toast, bar none. Great way to splurge Shane!

Ben

 

[jetcone]

Oh gawd I have 3

they make the best TOAST PERIOD!

When I got mine, my dad walked in and said "Thats the toaster my Mom had, its wonderful"!
I said "then why did I grow up with the GE knock off, which had 2 speeds, "intent to cook" and "Sahara"!"?
He said we couldnt afford a Sunbeam becuase he got such a big discount at the GE Store for employees.
Now he tells me!

You'll never get raw toast out of a Sunbeam, never eat raw toast you could get worms!

 

[petek]

I was just in my other room poking around and there's 3 more of em in there. Must be multiplying. Actually I grab them each and every time I see one in a thrift store. Sometimes they're in beautiful clean condition sometimes not. Whilst I was in there I drug out 3 Sunbeam blenders, need dusting off anyways.

 

[rp2813]

I'm also curious about how this type of toaster "knows" exactly what to do when you drop the bread back in for just a little more browning.

No finer toaster for your basic slice of bread. It will take some adjusting for anything else, but still the most impressive toaster I've ever owned.

I just wish my partner felt the same way. Currently ours is stored in the basement, just waiting for the latest one out on the counter to fail or otherwise disappoint. And we all know it will, don't we?

Ralph

 

[countryguy]

Petek,

Growing up we had the same Sunbeam blender as in the middle of your pic except that the lid was the same colour as the base and it had the cap that was removable for adding ingredients.

Gary

 

[~sudsshane]

Andrew...

Is this Sunbeam toaster the same one you have? I think it very well might be!!

You need to let me see if I can fix yours for you.

Call me