General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

CHROME PLATED PRESSED METAL BASE, HOUSING & PANELS/ WIRE ELEMENTS WRAPPED AROUND SHEET MICA ELEMENT CORES/ METAL WIRE GRILLS/ SYNTHETIC FEET & SIDE PANEL HANDLES/ FIBRE COVERED CORD/ RUBBER PLUG WITH BRASS PRONGS

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

20.0 cm

Width

12.7 cm

Height

17.9 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Domestic Technology

Category

Food processing

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

General Electric

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Toronto

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Unknown

Canada

Around the time of the production of this product, Canadian households with electricity began to increase significantly. Between 1941-1951, the percentage of homes with electricity increased from 69.1% of homes, to 87.8%, with higher percentages in urban regions of the country (Ref. 1). To encourage further use of electricity in homes during low-peak hours, electric companies in Canada began to encourage use of electrical appliances. These companies targeted women in their marketing, promoting the benefits of appliances to reduce workload in the kitchen. Showrooms were set up across Canada by various electric manufacturers, inviting women to view various electrical appliances (Ref. 2). As Canadians were introduced to the benefits of electricity in the kitchen, there was initially higher uptake of small electric appliances, such as toasters and irons, than the larger appliances. Between 1952-1960, the total number of toasters that were manufactured in Canada increased from 198,200 to 278,567 toasters total, or a total value of $1.2 million to $2.6 million (Ref.3). By 1931, 40% of homes across Canada owned a toaster (Ref. 1). This toaster was manufactured by Canadian General Electric. General Electric was a large American manufacturer and a well-known name in Canadian homes by the mid-1900s. A large part of electrical appliance economy in Canada was dominated by American imports, and over time larger U.S. corporations began to move manufacturing into Canada to reduce cost of high tariffs. (Ref. 4) Canadian General Electric was established initially in Peterborough, Canada in 1891. They continued to open manufacturing facilities in Canada, including in Barrie and Toronto. (Ref. 5)

Function

To toast bread on one side, other side is toasted by turning the bread manually. Can toast up to two slices of bread at a time.

Technical

The toaster is made of metal and geometric in form. The triangular body is a common shape of early toaster design. The elegant ornamentation featured on the doors feature repetitive and linear patterning that is characteristic of the art deco style (Ref. 6). Wire is wrapped around mica sheets to create a heating element for the toast, an approach that is used in the design of toaster components to this day. This toaster features flip-down doors, a functional design choice that protects the user from coming in direct contact with a hot element.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

INCISED PRINTING ON UNDERSIDE OF BASE READS: 'CAT. NO. T19 - 475W - 115V./CANADIAN GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED/ TORONTO, CANADA C.S.A. APP. NO. 336'/ 'GENERAL GE [LOGO] ELECTRIC' INCISED ON BASE AT SIDE/ MFR'S MARKS ON PLUG READ: 'PAT [?]/ 250V 660W' & 'GE' [LOGO]

Missing

From CA of 03/15/1994 by Tony Missio: No - Complete

Finish

BASE, HOUSING & PANELS METAL WITH POLISHED CHROME FINISH/ELEMENT CORES GRAY MICA/ GRILLS METAL NICKEL? PLATED/ FEET & SIDE PANEL HANDLESBLACK SYNTHETIC/ CORD BLACK & WHITE FIBRE/ PLUG BLACK RUBBER WITH PRONGS BRASS UNFINISHED

Decoration

PATTERN OF INCISED PARALLEL LINES ON DOORS, SIDES & TOP, HANDLES & FEET