History of the Toaster

The idea of toasting bread is not a new concept.  Early civilizations would place their bread over an open fire to keep it from growing mold.   As time progressed wire frames were created, or sticks were used to toast the bread.  In 1905, Nichrome (a filament wire with a composite of nickel and chromium) was created by Albert Marsh.  The nichrome proved to be safe and unbreakable when heated.   

Then, in 1906, George Schneider of the American Electrical Heater Company filed a patent application for an electric toaster.  He used Marsh's wire in his toaster.  

General Electric presented their electric toaster in 1909.  They used a competing metal blend.   This model, the D-12, was invented by Frank Shailor and is considered the first commercially successful electric toaster.  (Hagley).   This toaster only had one heating element so it had to be turned by hand in order to toast both sides.  Also, this toaster used electricity, which was limited in homes at this time.  So, the electric toaster was only used in restaurants.  (Desmond)

In 1913, the Copeman Electric Stove Company introduced the "toaster that turns toast".  This discontinued the need for the bread to be turned over manually halfway through cooking.  (Hagley)

Six years later, in 1919, a Minnesota mechanic named Charles Strite created an easy-to-use toaster that could be used in restaurants.  He got his patent for this device in 1921.

Waters-Genter of Minneapolis started selling a redesigned version of the Strite toaster in 1926.  It was sold under the brand name Toastmaster.  This was the first automoatic pop-up toaster for households.  This toaster would brown breads on both sides, set the heating element on a timer, and pop out the toast when finished. (Hagley).  It was a huge success!