Sunbeam AT35
I have one of these, an early one with the dial control. It's a 240 volt one made in Australia. It uses 1600 watts which is pretty fierce for 2 slices. I love it but don't use it much. I don't know if the 110 volt US ones are as fierce?
It heats the toast up FAST because the elements are so powerful. This is fine if you use normal sliced supermarket bread, but if you like thicker slices, it becomes a problem - 1. The slots are narrow so thicker slices don't fit, or jam in the slot. 2. The elements burn so bright that thick sliced toast is cooked on the outside before the inside is hot.
The other observation is that the inner standard type element (between the slots) runs hotter than the outer, spiral wound elements, so the toast is always darker on one face than the other. I suspect that when new the outer reflectors were more shiny, but with age they don't reflect as much heat onto the bread.
The slots aren't very deep either, so if you like interesting high-top bread, it sticks out the top. They really are engineered to boring supermarket bread. (Designed by engineers not foodies...)
One strange way that the ferocious heating becomes an advantage is with hard-to-toast bread. I have to eat gluten free now, and GF bread seems to take a lot of toasting. the Sunbeam is up to the job. On our 800 watt Kenwood toaster, the GF bread takes ages and often needs a second go. On the Sunbeam it turns out fine and fast, though darker on one face than the other.
I think they are a fun novelty but in reality not a great toaster.
I also have a Dualit that I salvaged and repaired, and I hate it. Narrow slots, erratic clockwork timer gives erratic results. But I have never tried it for GF bread - it may actually be perfect for that job...
