[Daffynition]

GE model D-12 Toaster, about 1909

The D-12 was one of the earliest toasters sold. The one pictured above is currently on display in the exhibition Lighting A Revolution at the National Museum of American History.

This toaster was donated to the Smithsonian in November 1968 by Mrs. Priscilla Griffin de Mauduit of Washington, DC. Her father was the toaster's original owner. The unsolicited donation of this toaster inspired Electricity Curator Bernard S. Finn to begin bringing a wide range of appliances into the Electricity Collections.*

[Coldwater Creek]

ping

[Daffynition]

The D-12 was one of the earliest toasters sold. The one pictured above is currently on display in the exhibition Lighting A Revolution at the National Museum of American History.

This toaster was donated to the Smithsonian in November 1968 by Mrs. Priscilla Griffin de Mauduit of Washington, DC. Her father was the toaster's original owner. The unsolicited donation of this toaster inspired Electricity Curator Bernard S. Finn to begin bringing a wide range of appliances into the Electricity Collections.*

Photo showing components of 1909 GE D-12 toaster.

Porcelain bases for the D-12 were available in plain white or, as seen here, decorated. Many early toasters sported elaborate designs for use at the table, rather than hidden away in a kitchen.

The 1909 General Electric catalog listed a plain white D-12 toaster at $3 (about $54 in today's money) and a decorated unit at $4 (about $72 today). The power cord cost an additional $1.50. Rated at 600 watts, the toaster could be purchased for a range of voltages–from 90 to 130.

The four heating elements consist of "Ni-chrome" wire coiled around mica plates. Invented by Albert L. Marsh in 1905, this wire combined the elements nickel and chromium–hence the name. An electric current made Ni-chrome wire glow cherry-red in open air, unlike a light bulb filament which failed if exposed to oxygen. Ni-chrome could be heated and cooled many times without breaking, and made an electric toaster practical. Ultimately, manufacturers adapted Ni-chrome wire to electric space heaters and other appliances.

This is the second of three D-12 versions made by GE. The first version became available in 1908 and featured a twelve-wire basket instead of the six wires seen on this unit. Also the ends of the two bread slots were connected to the central part of the basket frame by wires. This added rigidity to the basket but made it difficult to lift out the toast. The slots on the second model were open-ended so the bread could be more easily removed.

A third and final model D-12 appeared in 1910 with low-cut wire sides that allowed the user to simply tip bread in and out. A removable warming rack attached to the top of the basket above the heating elements on both the second and third versions of the D-12, but is missing from this particular unit.

This toaster measures 23 cm (9 inches) high by 18 cm (7 inches) long by 10 cm (4 inches) wide.

* For more information see: * See Finn, Bernard S., "Collectors and Museums," in Exposing Electronics, (Harwood Academic Publishers, 2000).
* Fisher, Charles P., Early Electric American Toasters, (self published: Framingham, MA, 1987).

http://americanhistory.si.edu/lighting/c_choice/choice2a.htm

[al baby]

I like the thermos better you put cold in it it stays cold you put hot in it it stays hot

How does it know ?

[Tax-chick]

A brilliant invention! Making toast on a skillet is not the same!

[Constitution Day]

This thread is incomplete without some Heywood Banks!

TOAST

All around the country and coast to coast
People always say what do you like most?
I don’t wanna brag, I don’t wanna boast
so I just tell ‘em I like toast

[Chorus]
YEAH TOAST!!
YEAH TOAST!!

I get up in the morning about 6 AM
had a little jelly, had a little jam
take a piece of bread, put it in the slot
push down the lever and the wires get hot- I get toast

[Chorus]
YEAH TOAST!!
YEAH TOAST!!

Now, there’s no secret to toasting perfection
there’s a dial on the side and you make your selection
push to the dark or the light and then
if it pops too soon, press down again make toast

[Chorus]
YEAH TOAST!!
UH TOAST!!

[cripplecreek]

YEAH TOAST!!!!!!

[Responsibility2nd]

My parents bought a new toaster in 1952.

It’s in their kitchen today. It still works - it still makes toast.

57 years. Wow! Name me an appliance made today that could be expected to last 57 years.

[mysterio]

I’m still using the one I got in 1994. That’s one product that really lasts.

[Uncle Miltie]

Toasters are fine, but grilled bread is better.

Fire up the Weber!

[heartwood]

My mother has a toaster that she got when she married almost 48 years ago. Nice solid chromed steel. Moves the bread down slowly when you put it in, and one time she had to get that motor fixed.

I’ve never had a toaster that lasted more than five years. The present one is approaching that, but four months after I bought it, the inner elements wouldn’t heat, and we have to flip our bread to get it toasted because I refuse to buy another until this one’s dead.

[Dr. Sivana]

And who could forget "Toast on a Stick?"

[xp38]

At some point this thread will be toast

[La Lydia]

A beautiful Pan Electric Toastrite in Blue Willow recently sold for more than a thousand dollars on ebay. I would lurve to have one.

[Loud Mime]

Chickens and Toast, please

[a fool in paradise]

When GE is taken over by Obamunism, all toast will look like this...

[Daffynition]

Thought you might enjoy this thread stoatster ...or this stoat in a toaster.........

[uglybiker]

But can it make...

?

[raybbr]

Hey Daffy, Check out post #73...

The artist is a poster on the Daily Kos.

She posted a there because she's feeling a little bit sick to her stomach that her artwork appears on FR.