Modern toasters

[fan-of-fans]

I used to have a Kenmore two slice toaster that was bought at the end of 2007. It made decent toast. I liked the cool green lights that lit up for defrost/bagel/reheat and also lit up around the dial to select the toast shade.

About a year or two ago it broke, and I found that Sears was no longer selling them. The new Kenmore toasters looked very cheap and lacked the LED lights.

Ended up with a Hamilton Beach chrome cool wall toaster. I liked the cord wrap on the back, design doesn't look that bad. But now the toast won't raise completely and the makings wore off the dial so can't easily see the setting.

I looked at a few replacements and kind of liked the Black and Decker ones with the digital readout. I also think the motorized lift toasters are cool, KitchenAid and some other brands have them.

But I am guessing a vintage toaster is the best to have. As I don't do enough toasting for it to really matter, will probably just keep using the current one until it goes out.

 

[electroluxxxx]

it seems as if everything is going this way, I have a farberware that i received for my wedding and it doesn't seem to toast to my liking unless the dial is all the way up to burnt and I will also admit that it was not a cheap toaster.

 

[luxkid1980]

Don't waste your time with the newer toasters they sell in stores now. They are absolute garbage and are designed to only last a few years before they start giving out. They are made with the cheapest components. If you want a quality toaster, buy a used Sunbeam T-20 or a Toastmaster on eBay.

 

[kenkart]

I rotate my kitchen appliances

from time to time, I am using a mid 50s Toastmaster Powermatic right now, other favorites are a General Mills, and a Kenmore with bright yellow handles,and of course several Sunbeams, from the 30s on up into the 60s as well as a Flatbed Sunbeam from the 30s .Don't waste your time with ANY new appliance.

 

[human]

I'm using a late '70s / early '80s vintage GE toaster oven. It was $4 well spent at Goodwill.

 

[chan55]

Toasters

I agree,do old school. I have worked in a dept store for 12 years and today's toasters and ovens are worthless.

I purchased a Sunbeam Vista self lowering toaster years ago at a thrift store.It's beautiful and makes perfect toast every time. It is circa 1962.Sunbeam made that toaster for decades. Too bad they stopped making good products years ago.

Ebay has a great selection of vintage toasters,buy there, stay out of the stores.

 

[real1shep]

I bought a digital Kitchen Aid toaster with an 'industrial' gray finish to match my Kitchen Aid blender. MEH....it worked great in the beginning but toasts one side darker now than the other. That's what it's supposed to do on the 'bagel' setting, but that function has bled over into the regular toasting setting. Macy's would have replaced it, but it would just be another China made toaster with different problems.

The digital part if very cool though....lol. Toastmaster had a huge factory/office there in Columbia, MO where I used to live. Probably not there anymore?

Kevin

 

[tolivac]

I have a Proctor Silex 4 slot toaster I bought at a neighbors yard sale 10 yrs ago---still going strong.Agree with most here-new toasters are JUNK!!!Sadly don't see vintage appliances at yard sales anymore-just clothes,baby stuff,nick nack dust catchers.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

WE had a Sunbeam toaster

where the bread went down automatically...............lasted years and years. I still have the same toaster. NEW IN BOX!!!! Wow!.
I have a new Kitchenaid. But, I mostly use............. a HOOVER! Big surprise!

 

[tolivac]

My Mom used to have a Sunbeam toaster that lowered the bread when you started it-then slowly raised it up when was finished.Would like one of those-they did a great job.

 

[beekeyknee]

Toastmaster in Columbia

Kevin,
Toastmaster officially closed here in 2008. By that time all production had left and mostly what was left was administrative offices that handled consumer relations and 800-number calls as well as credit, collection and accounts receivable, customer service, engineering, and human resources functions for the company.

A friend of mine from Canada worked there in the '90's. He spoke fluent French and handled French speaking customers.
Brian

That's an odd coincidence. My mother was just complaining about Chinese junk toasters and I found her a Sunbeam Radiant Control toaster on C/L just a couple of days ago for $30.00. Looked like an '80's model that had never been used.

 

[dirtdeviler]

Modern Toaster

Nowadays it seems that the best buy for toasters are the 10 dollar kmart specials. They last a reasonable amount of time and work pretty well, I just retired one i bought 3 years ago only because i found a beautiful vintage GE. But those cheapies still hold a place in my heart. So if your looking for a old toaster that tickles your fancy in the meantime a Procter-Silex is a great alternative.

 

[kenkart]

I switch them around

Just as I do all my countertop appliances, right now I have all Hamilton Beach products on the counter, a early 60s toaster and a mid 60s blender, along with a mid 50s mixer and mixette portable,I had been using all General Mills stuff from the early 50s, but truthfully, the most even toasting toaster I ever used was a 60s Proctor Silex .