Posted 3 years ago
AnythingOb…
(1778 items)
This one is greasy due to former storage/display over a stove, but is otherwise an old chrome TOASTMASTER Model 1B5 made by McGraw Electric Waters-Center Division, of Minneapolis, MN. Cool art-deco (?) styling with bakelite handles and light/dark knob, the handle that moves with the name molded into it. The small label on its bottom is the raised-letter metal manufacturer's tag, the larger decal gives cleaning and oiling instructions.
Due to the look of its cloth cord where it enters the unit (!!!) I have not tried to plug it in and check it for operation, though I don't have any reason to think it wouldn't work...?? I also don't know exactly how old it is, but will guess 1940's without actually doing any research... ;-) :-) :-)
AnythingObscure, Cool.
If I'm reading the picture of the label right, your toaster was made between July 1935 and June 1936:
*snip*
Model 1B5 - Serial Numbers
215,000 to 372,369 July 1934 to July 1935
372,370 to 543,573 July 1935 to June 1936
*snip*
https://www.reddit.com/r/toasters/comments/m3vq4h/toastmaster_serial_number_chart_the_site_this_was/
It's in the Smithsonian:
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”.
https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1054990
Patents galore:
https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=01858196&IDKey=6497C80BCC07%0D%0A&HomeUrl=%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fpatimg.htm
https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=01858197&IDKey=23E7C80BCD2B%0D%0A&HomeUrl=%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fpatimg.htm
https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=01698146&IDKey=5A77475E6103%0D%0A&HomeUrl=%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fpatimg.htm
https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=01387670&IDKey=BF48DF786D16%0D%0A&HomeUrl=%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fpatimg.htm
https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=01394450&IDKey=1C0C6D0C03A9%0D%0A&HomeUrl=%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fpatimg.htm
https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=01676257&IDKey=2B4A2900ECA4%0D%0A&HomeUrl=%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fpatimg.htm
https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=01866808&IDKey=63761D6AB210%0D%0A&HomeUrl=%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fpatimg.htm
https://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=RE018923&IDKey=E367654AB817%0D%0A&HomeUrl=%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fpatimg.htm
And if you're a total glutton for punishment, a video:
Inside a Toastmaster 1 B 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzlzeCJu_gI
Nice! Polished up, it would be a great recipe card holder in the kitchen for use or as a display.