Vintage Cica 1926 Toastmaster Model 1A1 First Electric "Pop-Up" Toaster Restored

Description

The Toastmaster 1A1
The worlds first Pop-Up Toaster
Very Early Model
As the story goes sometime during World War I, a mechanic in a plant in Minnesota got tired of burned toast being served in the company cafeteria and decided to do something about it.. To circumvent the need for continual human attention,
Charles Strite incorporated springs and a variable timer, and filed the patent for his commercial pop-up toaster on May 29, 1919.
The first pop-up version of this toaster for the home, the Toastmaster 1A1, became available in 1926.
This amazing new invention made perfect toast every time! Without turning! Without burning!
The automatic toaster had arrived.
This model is one of the oldest I have come across and extremely rare in the condition. The oldest of these 1A1 toasters did not have serial numbers and this one does not. I have restored at least 50 of these and have come across UN-serialized examples of this model before however this unit has design differences that I have never seen.
First of all the only piece missing on this unit was one of the Bakelite push down covers. I knew this when I bought it I have spares so no problem. However with this model the piece was fatter and had no little hallmark on the top, never seen this before so this unit has one of each. (PIC 11).
Then I noticed a difference in the "toast guides" this unit guides with an extra bend on the top end. This allows the guides to hold the heating element plates firmly in place. Had never seen this before either however in my opinion a better design then its successors. (PIC 10)
These 1A1 units are great candidates for restoration because internally there is only one short wire. All other connections are made with solid copper rods and connectors. So after all parts are cleaned and inspected the thing is pretty much indestructible. They make a great addition to "Retro" kitchens.
Usually when
I receive these units (I have restored at least 50 of this model) the feet are
gone or disintegrated with just the rivets or what look like melted feet remaining, the feet were made of some kind of rubber like materiel that broke down over the years.
This unit surprisingly had 3 feet in original shape and decent condition. They are slightly misshapen but look good. Due to the nature of whatever they are made of I have completely sealed them with adhesive (Brush on super Glue similar to nail polish applicator). The 4th foot pad was missing and has been replaced with a nearly identical replacement.
This unit has a well preserved identification plate. Usually the red and black enamel is gone completely.
The cord on this unit was unusable and completely covered in electrical tape. I replaced it with a period new old stock (NOS) cloth cord
HOW IT WORKS:
The 1A1 has a timing adjustment for the desired degree of darkness by setting a pull out metal stopper.
This is the little round lever to the right pulls out about 1/4 inch on spring tension and can be moved to different letters A-G.
All this actually does is control how far down you can push timer lever (winder). You then push down on the right lever start the timer which will then allow you to lock down the left lever which lowers the bread and turns on the current. Setting "C"
or "B" on this unit seems to make perfect toast depending on how dark you like it.
NOTE: If you attempt to push down the left lever first it will not lock down. Both of these levers need to be pushed firmly.
NOTE: You may see an electric arc (spark) inside the toaster though the lever slot when you lock down the the left lever....don't panic.... the "points" that slap together when you push down the lever are behind the slot. This happens in many toasters but is usually not visible. There is also small metal switch which will release the pop-up mechanism before the timer ends.