June 1, 1926: Early electric toasters toasted more than bread. The hot filaments were exposed and easily touched, especially when flipping the bread (they could only toast one side at a time). The machines were especially dangerous to children and often ignited near-by combustibles.
On this day came a vast improvement, the first enclosed consumer pop-up electric toaster. Waters-Genter Co. of Minneapolis adapted its expensive restaurant machine. The company’s affordable, one-slice Toastmaster model was an instant hit on America’s breakfast tables.
