Toast-Web

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Some time last year, the image of a toaster came to me, a toaster that could compute. I wanted to be the first to build a computer inside a toaster. Unfortunately, it's already been done. Normally, I'd be dejected and give up at that point, but the image kept coming back to me of the CD popping out of the slot, and the pop-up lever popping up when the computer shut down.

Well it took a while since the entire thing was done trial and error (rather than actually think about it ahead of time). Television has taken its toll. But I finally have something to show for the many evenings of work. The project didn't really get rolling until I found a toaster on E-Bay one day. Thanks to Bob Henderson who I hope isn't too offended by what I did with his lovely 1950s bakelite and chrome toaster.

I was surprised at what great condition and how aesthetically pleasing the toaster was.

The toaster arrives in an orange box, carefully packed.
First view of the gleaming chrome and wavy bakelite. The flash makes the chrome look scratched, but in normal light it's about perfect.

With the crumb cover removed
Checking out the power cord connection
Opening up the case was pretty easy. All screws, nicely concealed; no rivets or the like.

Removing the works. Only had to clip one wire to get the entire mechanism out unscathed.
Fifty years is a long time for crumbs to build up. I had to take over the kitchen for a while to clean all the pieces off. I didn't expect to use too much of the internals, but kept them around in case they'd be useful.

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The toaster arrives in an orange box, carefully packed.	First view of the gleaming chrome and wavy bakelite. The flash makes the chrome look scratched, but in normal light it's about perfect.
With the crumb cover removed	Checking out the power cord connection	Opening up the case was pretty easy. All screws, nicely concealed; no rivets or the like.
	Removing the works. Only had to clip one wire to get the entire mechanism out unscathed.	Fifty years is a long time for crumbs to build up. I had to take over the kitchen for a while to clean all the pieces off. I didn't expect to use too much of the internals, but kept them around in case they'd be useful.