That’s actually better than I expected, but yeah, I’m guessing that was the issue.
Now, a pressure sensor and microcontroller would be pennies at scale, and most toasters already use solenoids. I’m less sure about the temperature sensor because of how much heat it would have to tolerate, but I doubt it would be more than a few dollars, and manufacturing a slightly different board would be a one-time cost.
This would make a pretty good startup. The YouTube videos have done some of the marketing already, even.
I think some of the fondness for devices like these also comes from the subjective beauty/elegance of mechanical stuff over the modern microcontroller approach with electronics. But yeah, it still would be very interesting to see stuff like this available again at a cheaper price
I get that too, but this is a concept that’s actually relevant (in toast-making terms) outside of any academic or aesthetic considerations. It’s just better.
Indeed, no disagreement there! By the way, Technology Connections (the YouTube channel referred in the article) has a video on how an old microwave is miles ahead its modern counterparts. You might like that, too
Well, if it is just the knob you can try gluing it back, cut up toothpicks might help. If you are confident with electrics you can replace the potentiometer.
Toasters just really go by time or temperature, except the Sunbeam which actually goes by if the toast is ‘toast’.
I never let anything die, I just keep fixing it. Hardly an auspicious start though.
After some swearing and trial and error, it turned out that putting it back on was actually quite easy without having to use any glue or anything, making it fulfill the “mildly” part of the community name lol.
Thanks for all the helpful advice nonetheless though, I really appreciate it 🙂
Modern toasters are bullshit. This is what you want. https://www.theverge.com/22801890/sunbeam-radiant-control-toaster-t20-t35-vista
Holy fuck, why didn’t this catch on?
The article mentions that they costed about 22 USD when introduced and it’s around 260 in today’s dollars. Pretty darn expensive
That’s actually better than I expected, but yeah, I’m guessing that was the issue.
Now, a pressure sensor and microcontroller would be pennies at scale, and most toasters already use solenoids. I’m less sure about the temperature sensor because of how much heat it would have to tolerate, but I doubt it would be more than a few dollars, and manufacturing a slightly different board would be a one-time cost.
This would make a pretty good startup. The YouTube videos have done some of the marketing already, even.
I think some of the fondness for devices like these also comes from the subjective beauty/elegance of mechanical stuff over the modern microcontroller approach with electronics. But yeah, it still would be very interesting to see stuff like this available again at a cheaper price
I get that too, but this is a concept that’s actually relevant (in toast-making terms) outside of any academic or aesthetic considerations. It’s just better.
Indeed, no disagreement there! By the way, Technology Connections (the YouTube channel referred in the article) has a video on how an old microwave is miles ahead its modern counterparts. You might like that, too
My guess is that the profit margin wasn’t big enough 😮💨
Didn’t Technology Connections make a few videos about it?
Edit: ah they’re linked
Modern? I’m pretty sure this one is older than me and I turned 41 the day before yesterday 😄
That being said, the sunbeam looks brilliant and if I could afford one I’d much prefer that to the one I have!
Well, if it is just the knob you can try gluing it back, cut up toothpicks might help. If you are confident with electrics you can replace the potentiometer.
Toasters just really go by time or temperature, except the Sunbeam which actually goes by if the toast is ‘toast’.
I never let anything die, I just keep fixing it. Hardly an auspicious start though.
After some swearing and trial and error, it turned out that putting it back on was actually quite easy without having to use any glue or anything, making it fulfill the “mildly” part of the community name lol.
Thanks for all the helpful advice nonetheless though, I really appreciate it 🙂
Swearing and impact technology are greatly underrated techniques for appliance repair.
Nice! I like “impact technology” almost as much as “concussive calibration” 😂