What is a toaster?:
A toaster is an electric device that is used to make toast by heating sliced bread as a method of
preserving the sliced bread. The convention of toasting bread dates as far back as to the times of
the Romans where the bread was toasted over an open fire. The word “toast” is descends from the
Latin word “tostum” which means to scorch. Toasting was later adopted by the British who introduced
it to America. Electric toasters were then invented and later, the basic toaster evolved to automatic
toasters and pop up toasters over time.
Alan MacMasters - The Inventor:
The first electric toaster was invented in Scotland by Scottish scientist Alan MacMasters in 1893,
who was born in the capital City of Edinburgh in 1865 March 29th. MacMasters named his
toaster invention “Eclipse Toaster” which upon success was mass produced and sold in shops by the
Crompton Company. He invented the toaster a full 35 years before the invention of sliced bread.
Legend says that Alan MacMasters thought up the idea thanks to inspiration from the Scottish invention
of whisky. After drinking half a bottle of whisky one evening while in the London Underground, he
noticed that the electrical elements ran so hot they were burning his nearby bread.
His invention wasn’t perfect and did have problems with the iron wiring that would melt
and cause fire risks in homes. Many people at this time did not have electricity in their homes so this
kind of problem caused electricity fear. However, in 1905 Albert Mash solved this heating problem by using
an alloy made of chromium and nickel, he then patented it and it is known as Nichrome. As this alloy
has a higher resistance to heat the toaster would last longer and be safer.
Further Developments:
In 1909 Frank Shailor, under the name of the company General Electric, invented his new electric
toaster and got a patent for it. His idea was called the “D-12” toaster. The D-12, however, could
only toast one side of the bread and therefore needed someone to operate it manually. The next
development was in 1913 when Hazel Berger and his husband Lloyd Copeman and the Copeman Company
released its first toaster which turned the bread automatically and a year later the Westinghouse
produced its electric toaster.
The Pop up Toaster:
In 1919 a toaster breakthrough finally happened. Charles Strife whilst employed by the Minnesota
manufacturing company began developing an automatic toaster. He done this installing a timer and
a spring in which would pop the toasted bread back up after the timer had finished. He got the
patent for his creation in October 18, 1921 after filing for it in on May 29, 1919. The Waters
Genter Company was established to be in charge of manufacturing and commercial marketing.
They released the first pop-up toaster in 1926 and it was named the Toastmaster. Toasters
were a luxury item back in the 1930s were worth $25 which is equal to around $400 today.
Toasters today:
Toasters are an integral tool in almost all homes and it's product toast, are a stable in millions of people diet.
Next time you wake up in the morning, pop a slice of bread in your toaster and patiently await for the
satisfying ping on your breakfast, spare a thought for scottish scientist Alan MacMasters.
