08/07/2023
In the 1920s, the electric toaster saw its peak popularity, coinciding with the introduction of pre-sliced bread, which became a global sensation. During this decade, electric toaster sales surged from 400,000 to 1.2 million units.
The original electric toasters featured a heater and a stationary wire frame to hold the toast, giving them an elegant appearance, often mounted on porcelain bases. However, they posed a risk to users due to their tendency to get extremely hot.
One remarkable toaster from that era was "The Sweetheart," which offered a convenient feature. By pressing two buttons on the base, each side of the toaster's basket swung out at a 90-degree angle. This allowed users to easily place the bread in or remove the toasted slices without having to do so manually. Releasing the buttons would return the baskets to their original position against the unit. By pressing the buttons again, the bread slices would rotate in the opposite direction, ensuring both sides were toasted evenly.
