Toasters

[xraytech]

I'm not one that uses a toaster very much, however I have been lately after being given a loaf of English muffin bread as a Christmas gift.

I have this early 60s Sunbeam toaster, while I love the style of it the performance is lack luster. It seems to toast unevenly, and regardless of what I set the setting on it always burns the toast.

Today I decided to get out my grams 1952 General Mills toaster that was a wedding gift from their best man. This toaster also seemed to toast unevenly, however much more even than the Sunbeam. The General Mills also toasts without burning.

Are there any other toasters that you reccomend?

 

[rp2813]

Sam,

I'm surprised you're having performance issues with both of those, but the type of bread can make a big difference.  I can't say I've ever seen a toaster provide even results with an English muffin, so your muffin bread may be part of the problem.

 

That '52 is really a Toastmaster, and it's a tried and true model that provided good results for millions of  American households for many years.  I grew up with one.  I really like the look they gave it for the General Mills models.

 

Keep in mind that when your toasters were made, people were eating plain white bread almost exclusively.  I'm betting both the Sunbeam and the GM would perform well if that's what you were toasting.

 

I absolutely love my Sunbeam Radiantube self-lowering "smartoaster" for turning out perfect results every time.  It even knows when you just want it a little more done, and raises it up at just the right time rather than running through a whole toasting cycle like "dumbtoasters" do.   BUT -- try anything other than plain white bread in it and results can be sketchy.  For that reason, I have it stored away.  Others here have reported good results with other types of bread in their self-lowering Sunbeams, but that has not been my experience.

 

 

 

 

 

[g3bill]

Nice Looking Toasters !

My Grandma had a Sumbeam Automatic Toaster and when my mom got it there were issues as years of prying toast with knifes and forks. I removed the bottom panel and cleaned it real well with a small paint brush and long ice cream stick then straightened the toast guides to keep toast at a proper distence from elements. I set the light/dark selector to the middle and started toasting and adjusting the screw under there somewhere (I let toaster cool down between tests). After several slices of brad got it to give a medium color toast and has worked fantastic ever since, maybe 5 years now. Think I also had to clean some contacts for the Auto lift? I found another auto toaster at a thrift store and grabed it for a backup.

 

[washman]

Sunbeam auto toaster

 

[ea56]

I have a Sunbeam T-35 radiant automatic lowering toaster. I bought it at the Goodwill Thrift Store about 8 years ago for only $6.99. It was in virtually new cond. I agree with the the other members that have posted about this toaster. They are probably more consitant with plain white bread. But I use only good whole wheat bread, and I set the control to almost the lightest setting and I get great results. I wouldn't have any other toaster. Plus it looks great sitting next to my Sunbeam Coffeemaster C30A, that also works excellently. Makes the best coffee, with little effort. At that time on ebay the only good Sunbeam T-35's or T-20's were going for at least $30 to $40 for a buy it now, and I had no luck on any that I bid on. I felt like I really scored at the Goodwill. What a shame that we don't make quality appliances in the USA anymore, but these 50 to 70 year old one still work great and do exactly what they were made to do.[this post was last edited: 12/20/2014-19:00]

 

[cadman]

Sam, I've got the same glass Sunbeam toaster and used it exclusively for a year or two. No matter what I tried it couldn't match the even toasting of the automatics. I'd say it was similar to a modern toaster, without the lengthy wait. I just chalked it up to the design.

Muffins, white bread, (smashed) bagels...It's tough to go wrong with a T-50.

 

[petek]

For a fun but dangerous toaster

I couldn't resist buying one of these B&D Arize glass sided toasters what about 8-9 years ago when they were clearing them out at Homesense or somewhere. Unfortunately anything other than store bought sliced bread goes up in flames which happened a few times. There's a stationary heating element near the top which toasts the bread as it slowly descends and rises back up.. Surprised there was never a recall.

 

[ronhic]

I've the latest version of a toastermatic

Sunbeam Australia re-released the toastermatic in 2001 as the TA4100. There are a couple of key differences to traditional, older toastermatics:

 

- they're filament only

- bread slots go left to right rather than up and down

- the bread is centred as it lowers

- it has 'cancel', 'frozen' and 'reheat' buttons as a modern toaster would

- Australian design, but made in China (Sunbeam closed their factory here in the 90's

 

I've never had an issue with toasting grain, wholemeal or white bread. It takes crumpets and English muffins too. Mine is used daily and has been faultless (touch wood) since I bought it in 2001, and is at home with a single slice or 20 in a row

 

....and just to make sure I've a back up, I bought a NIB off ebay a couple of years ago.

 

However, just so you know, they were AUD$130 and I don't remember them ever being offered on sale.

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