Toastmaster Two-Slice Electric Toaster
date: label: date made
content: 1935- 1936
name: label: maker
content: McGraw Electric Co.
notes: label: Description
content: Part of a nine-piece “Toastmaster Hospitality” set (1989.0308.01-.09). Electric two-slice pop-up toaster, design shows the influence of the "skyscraper" Art Deco style of the 1920s and 1930s. Chrome-plated metal. Block form, architectural, streamlined, with fluted sides and two flat, plastic handles, one on either side, black molded plastic. One handle activates the toaster when pressed down and is embossed: “TOASTMASTER”. Molded plastic temperature knob, metal is engraved: “LIGHT/DARK”. Base is molded, stacked, four hidden plastic feet, black. Fabric covered power cord attached, black and white, black molded plastic plug, two-pronged, embossed: “BELDEN/1,858,196 PAT. NO’S 1,858,197”. Sticker attached to underside with cleaning instructions. Small metal tag attached to underside, embossed: “MANUFACTURED BY McGRAW ELECTRIC COMPANY/WATERS-GENTER DIV., MPLS., MINN., U.S.A./U.S. PAT. 1,698,146 1,387,670 1,394,450 1,676,257 1,866,808/R.E. 18923 OTHERS PENDING/V-110 A-10-NO. B-449066-MOD. 1B5”. Tape residue on two spots on metal body, otherwise pristine condition, appears unused. Original box and packing material included (see 1989.0308.10)
label: Description
content: Patents:
label: Description
content: 1,698,146: January 8, 1929, Charles P. Strite, for “Bread toaster”
label: Description
content: 1,387,670: August 16, 1921, Charles P. Strite, for “Bread-toaster”
label: Description
content: 1,394,450: October 18, 1921, Charles P. Strite, for “Bread-toaster”
label: Description
content: 1,676,257: May 19, 1926, Thomas C. Forbes, for “Electric switch”
label: Description
content: 1,866,808: March 19, 1930, Murray Ireland, for "Toaster"
label: Description
content: 1,858,196: May 10, 1932, Hugo H. Wermine, assignor to Belden Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Illinois, for “Electric plug connecter”
label: Description
content: 1,858,197: May 10, 1932, Hugo H. Wermine, assignor to Belden Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Illinois, for “Electric plug connecter”
label: Description
content: The set includes a toast cutter, serving tray, and six matching dishes.
label: Description
content: This model (1B5, Two-slice) was produced July 1934- June 1936. Based on the serial number, this particular toaster was produced July 1935- June 1936. The two-slice Toastmaster was introduced in August 1930.
label: Description
content: Maker is McGraw Electric Company, Toastmaster Products Division, c. 1912-present, though no longer manufacturing household appliances, and now known as McGraw-Edison.
place: label: place made
content: United States: Minnesota, Minneapolis
setName: label: See more items in
content: Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
label: See more items in
content: Domestic Furnishings
label: Exhibition
content: Art in Industry
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1989.0308.01
label: catalog number
content: 1989.0308.01
label: accession number
content: 1989.0308
objectType: label: Object Name
content: toaster
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: fabric (cord material)
label: Measurements
content: toaster with electric cord: 7 in x 9 1/4 in x 15 in; 17.78 cm x 23.495 cm x 38.1 cm
label: Measurements
content: shipping box: 10 in x 16 7/16 in x 24 7/16 in; 25.4 cm x 41.75125 cm x 62.07125 cm