John Eng's Dead Tech Rescue

Page 3

Vintage Electric Items

Heating with electricity has barely changed in the last 100+ years. It still requires a piece of resistance metal such as nickel-chromium (nichrome) that can take the heat expansion and contraction of daily on-off-on use. The things that have changes is the fashionable appeal, materials built around it and the addition of electronics to make the use of heating with electricity easier and convenient. An example of such changes is the use of a carcinogen rock material called asbestos used to minimize fire and burn injury risk with these items. Asbestos is no longer being used (since the late 1970s) and other materials or design changes to address the same problem are being used.

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Steam Vaporizers for Colds

Invented by Kaz in the 1920's, these were used to provide steam to help relieve conjestion. Manufacturers sold medicated liquid that you can add to the water for more soothing relief. I like the late 1940-1950 models because they had unique stands and used glass water tank instead of metal or plastic.

DeVilbliss 147 (1950's) USA

Kaz 55C (1950's) with vintage vaporizer medication liquid.

VINTAGE SMALL ELECTRIC HEATING APPLIANCES

Vintage Electric Toasters (Pre 1925)

With the exception of additional electronics, the toaster hasn't really changed over the last 100 years or so. Still uses a stretch of nichrome resistance wire to provide resistance heating. The original toasters were basically exposed heater elements that you lay the bread over then you had to gingerly flip the bread over to get the otherside browned without burning your hands. Later toasters eliminated that with dual heating and then later on had an heat sensor set by user so the toast would come out eliminating the operator from watching it avoiding burnt toast.
Landers, Frary and Clark or LFC (New Britain, CT) Model E946 "Universal" 2 Slice Manual Toaster with heating elements exposed. Sold 1906-1920

Kwikway Co, St Louis MO (div of Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Co) "The Kwikway Toaster" A-54 2 slice manual toaster 1920s Toasters by the 1920s were basically like the pre 1920s but more stylish on the outside and covered the heating elements with chrome finish covers. Curved corners were common and finished lines were added.Soon after toasters had heating elements on both sides eliminating the need to flip the bread by had (no more burnt fingers, well maybe).

Portable Electric Heaters (1930's-1940's)

Made of all metal and one heat setting. These models had interesting bodies. These heaters lacked tip over shut off which is a potential fire hazard. All these have been restored.
General Electric Cat# 128A65. resemble an early radio speaker. Color close to original)

Cool Looking Unknown model (original color almost the same as the restored model shown)

Clothes Iron

Like toasters the basic design hasn't changed only the electronics added increases convenience. The steam iron came much later until the 1950's. If you needed steam you either had to have a dedicated steam source or have a spray bottle of water. The heated steam helps stretch the fibers of the fabric getting rid of the wrinkles. The hair curler is really an iron design for your hair and modifies the hair protein to curl it or straighten it out.
Hotpoint Model K "Boudoir" Iron (1906) Hotpoint Electric Heating CO, NY
This is really vintage. Notice the plug, it fits into a light bulb socket. Electric outlets were a convenience reserved for those more expensive establishments. No steam option and one heat setting. Those days fabrics were natural fibers like cotton, wool etc.

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