[Fiji Hill]

For example, the retail price of an automatic Kenmore two-slice toaster advertised in the 1958 Sears Christmas Catalog (available here online, and pictured below on the left) was $12.95, or 6.54 hours of work at the average hourly manufacturing wage of $1.98 in 1958 (wage data here). Today you can buy a comparable Kenmore two-slice toaster for $25.99

I'll take the 1958 toaster. It was made in America and it probably lasted a lot longer than the ones today, which are all made in China.

[1rudeboy]

But will it last as long as six Chinese toasters? That’s the academic question. (Make no mistake, I like old toasters too).

[married21]

Our Sunbeam toaster that I grew up with lasted 20 years, from the 50s to the 70s, and lowered the toast into the toaster automatically.

I’ve been married 16 years and have been through at least three toasters, and I couldn’t find one that did not require me to push the toast down with some spring mechanism that is liable to break or not work.

[Inyo-Mono]

I'll take the 1958 toaster. It was made in America and it probably lasted a lot longer than the ones today, which are all made in China.

My wife and I still use the toaster that belonged to my parents in the '50s (looks like the one pictured in a post above). Cloth electrical cord and all, it still works great!

[thecodont]

I'll take the 1958 toaster. It was made in America and it probably lasted a lot longer than the ones today, which are all made in China.

My WWII-era toaster, American made, still works. Makes lovely toast.