Vintage Toasters?

[thatwasherguy]

Hi there! I was just wondering if anyone else here uses a vintage toaster. Growing up, one of my favorite movies was the brave little toaster. I finally figured out it’s real-life equivalent (Sunbeam T-9), and bought one. I had wanted that particular toaster for years! To say it makes toast fast is an understatement. I timed it against my modern toaster, and for about the same darkness of toast, the sunbeam completed its cycle at 1:19, and the modern toaster at 2:06. Thanks,
Thatwasherguy.

 

[cleanteamofny]

perfect timing

 

 

There's an article on this toaster on the DAILY KOS.

 

This is a Sunbeam Model T-9 toaster, introduced in 1939 and produced until 1949 when it was replaced by the legendary Model T-20...

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/2/27/2082645/-The-Second-Best-Toaster-Ever-Made

 

[rp2813]

Larry, thanks for linking to that article.  After reading it, I think I may have to keep an eye out for a T-9.  I love that voltage adjustment wheel.  Engineered to last, and produce perfect toast for decades!

 

 

 

[circlew]

That's like my Sunbeam toaster; not using it currently as it's packed up. I got it from my dad's Uncle Fred when he passed away back in '90. He and Aunt Hazel got it not long after they married in '36, so probably in '39 or '40. My mom said it was on their breakfast table when she met them in Summer of '43.

 

[robbinsandmyers]

I use my 1950's Toastmaster 1B16 every day to toast my Bays English muffin. Still works great!

 

[rp2813]

I have a low-mileage Toastmaster 1B24 waiting for the day when I finally get tired of the irregular performance from my KitchenAid Pro Line toaster, which looks beefy on the outside but is just a regular modern toaster on the inside.  As much as I've grown to like its manual raise and lower lever, consistent results is more important and it seems only vintage toasters provide it.

 

[ea56]

Vintage toasters are certainly superior to most modern toasters that are made in China or the USA, as long as they are still working like they were designed to work. But when they cease working it can be a problem sometimes to get them back working again.

I had a vintage Sunbeam Radiant toaster, a T35 that a bought from the Salvation Army for $6.99 and it worked great for about 10 years, then it became unreliable. No matter what I tried I could never get it working right again. So I donated it to charity hoping that someone with more skill than I could make use of it again.

Thats when I bought a used Dualit on ebay for $89.00, shipping included. Its a model from 2000 and its the bomb! I love the timer function and the manual lowering and raising of the bread. It’s especially good for homemade bread which is sturdier and takes longer to toast. To properly use a Dualit you need to preheat it for 1 min before beginning to toast, then it makes consistently excellent toast every time. Next to my Duallit the Sunbeam T-35 was the best toaster I ever owned, then I’d say the vintage Toastmaster from the early 50’s was the next best.

I’m sure that the Sunbeam T-9 in the OP is also a gem. Back then Sunbeam made some of the very best small appliances that money could buy, and they’ve stood the test of time.

Eddie[this post was last edited: 2/28/2022-15:50]

 

[turquoisedude]

Love vintage toasters!

I have a collection that includes 2 of the Sunbeam T9 models like yours.  I have to get one of them back into use now, dammit.... LOL 

 

Daily drivers at the house in Ogden are a 56 GE T30 and a 57 GE toaster oven.  At the house in St-Liboire, I use the Sunbeam T35 that belonged to my parents (they got it as a gift in 1962). 

 

[thatwasherguy]

Cool!

Thanks for the replies everyone! I ran across a video on the construction and design of the sunbeam T-20 a while back, and I’ve linked it below for anyone who cares.

CleanteamofNY..
Thanks for the link! That’s a wonderful article. I didn’t realize that the T-20 was the replacement for the T-9. I always thought it was the T-10. You learn something new every day, I suppose.

RP2813...
As a T-9 owner, I can tell you that you won’t be disappointed, provided that the one you buy is in good condition. They’re for sure built tougher than any toaster you can buy today. I completely agree about the toasting quality. My modern one doesn’t always toast the same from batch to batch. From my experiences with mine, it seems that vintage toasters are faster, too. Needless to say, I’m never using that modern toaster again. That sunbeam has forever ruined them for me. That’s nice that you have a backup. My modern 4-slice toaster has only worked on one of the sides for years. (It used cheap plastic cantilevers in the lowering mechanism that broke). My dad had to part out one of the sides to fix the other one. Needless to say, he now hates that thing with a passion.

CircleW...
Neat! I remember the E-bay seller I bought mine from stating that it belonged to their grandmother. It’s hard to believe that there was a time when appliances were built to outlast their original owners.

Robbinsandmyers...
Sweet! I just love to hear from people that still use vintage appliances as daily drivers like I do.

 

[thatwasherguy]

ea56...
That sounds like a really interesting toaster. I’ve never heard of one that you preheat before. I may have to get one at some point. Trust me, the T-9 is a gem. I couldn’t be happier with it.

turquoisedude...
That sounds like quite the setup. I’m glad to know I’m not alone in using a vintage toaster. Those sound like some really fun machines you’ve got. I’ve wanted to use a automatic rise sunbeam ever since I learned of their existence. One of my family members has one, however. (They still use it as a daily driver, too!). If I’m ever at their house, that’ll be the first thing I head for to try out.

Thatwasherguy.

 

[ea56]

thatwasherguy

I think your new Sunbeam T9 is a great find! If I was ever to buy another vintage toaster I think the T9 would be it. Its design is beautiful and I love the simplicity of the toaster itself. The automatic ones are something to experience for sure, but can be temperamental. I loved my T35 while I had it and used it as a daily driver. It was hard to let it go. But I’m equally happy if not more so with its replacement Dualit. Its more hands on, but not a hassle at all. I like the ability to control the toasting time completely.

I sure hope and think you will get many years of enjoyment from your excellent score. There’s nothin’ better than a perfectly made and buttered slice of freshly made toast! Enjoy!

Eddie

 

[cleanteamofny]

 

 

Thatwasherguy and Ralph,


 

Your welcome!

 

It's cool to share things we run across by accident by doomscrolling, LOL

It is a joy that there is so much more to life than the regular news of the day and this is one of them.