Sob Story

[gamalot]

Thats pretty funny OG! For a minute I wasn't sure if you needed a toaster or are just toasted!

I see quite alot of the old WE appliances in my flea market/yard sale travels. The old black and very heavy oscilating table fans are pretty plentiful around here. Don't recall seeing any toasters but will keep my eyes open for you.
I think I have something around here that might help sooth your pain. I am sure it is WE and it straps to the back of your hand to be a vibrating massager. Don't remember for sure but think it says OSTER, made by Western Electric. Have to see if I remember what box that might be in.

WE has a long history of manufacturing many items other then audio related gear. I remember as a child, my uncle had a very serious train collection and we visited every christmas. The main controller that had probably 30 different functions was Western Electric and his pride and joy because it lifted bridges, switched tracks, blew whistles, and an entire host of other very cool operations. Uncle was a bit off but his train set was his lifes passion.

Good story

Gary

[Old Guy]

Nah, I wrote that sober.

what I really wanted was to be able to post the thing to Ebay with a Buy It Now of 22 grand based on it's rarity. There are some in the museum I posted a link to, so it's also "museum quality"

In mint condition with only one scratch, right over the serial number...

And it's an "early model" that only did 2 slices, as opposed to the later 4 slice models considered inferior by toasterphiles.

Seller ships worldwide, payment by Western Union or wire transfer only.

You should have seen me in my younger days, before I calmed down. I used to tell some incredible stories then...

[David Deratany]

When I was a child, my barber used one of those on my neck and shoulders after the haircut. It made me wonder about him:-)

[valhallax]

hehehe...

[tomt]

what the heck

lets see a pic of your new/old toaster ...

[Old Guy]

Not to be confused with getting parts for my older Swedish car- that would be a Saab story.

I thought I had a chance to get a Western Electric item, quite rare. Genuinely rare, not fake Ebay rare.

An item so rare I would ventiure 99% here have never seen one. I would bet 50 bucks a picture has never been posted to this board.

Give up?

The following ad was on the local Freecycle last nite.

"I have a really old Western Electric toaster(it has a cloth cord). It
has a chrome finish, looks really good and still toasts good. Used very
little. I live in the North ...."

For those not in the know...

http://www.telcomhistory.org/vm/exhibitsSeattle13.shtml

Quote:

By 1906, Western Electric was the largest electrical manufacturer and distributor in the United States. And not just of telephones and related equipment . . . in fact, until 1925, Western Electric made heavy electrical equipment, power tools, and home appliances. Electric toasters, fans, irons, and even toys. We have some of these early Western Electric consumer products on display on the third floor of our museum.

Much to my chagrin, when I picked it up, it turned out to be Western Auto rather than Western Electric.

Yes, a toaster is a bit off topic.

But the next time some one says " I know a lot more about this stuff' you just reply, in your best Clint Eastwood...

" I fix my breakfast on a Western Electric toaster."

They reply will most likely be a wide eyed "Say what?"

I was hoping to have pics to post, but a Western Auto would be WAY off topic. Even if the thing has more chrome than an old Cafillac. Oh well- it's funky, old cloth cord and all. might be worth something on Feepay. Not enough to mend a broken heart though.

[Old Guy]

Tom, you've been so gnerous with pics, how could I refuse?

Caveat-it's raining here and the ****** ols Sony Mavica doesn't like indoor shots. This thing is like half a megapixel.. but it shoots on floppies. Good camera is out on the farm.

[theophile]

Old Guy,
I'm glad this wasn't a S.O.B story.
If it was about the Sensational Alex Harvey Band,it would have had to be a S.A.H.B story.

[bfish]

That's a beaut, OG, but I thought it was gonna be a side-eject model like Ma had...

Actually, the toaster may have more relevance here than one might think. Flat-wire resistance heaters pre-dated the use of flat wire for voice coils by ~ 20 years..perhaps, after staring at those glowing flat ribbons, someone had an idea...

[Old Guy]

WE stopped making toasters in 1925, THAT prolly would have been a side eject.

The one I posted is according to the donor, 1954 or so. she bought it new- a genuine one owner toaster! Still 54 years old.