Appliances such as this toaster were novelties in the 1920s.
The 1920s was a decade of changing fashions, tastes, and technology. In addition to well-remembered cultural touchstones such as the flapper bob, swing jazz, and the Model T, the decade also saw the world's first mass-produced home appliances. The home washing machine, toaster, vacuum cleaner, refrigerator and electric stoves and hotplates were all examples of such labor-saving devices.
Washing Machines
Western Electric, General Electric, and Maytag were some of the decade's manufacturers of washing machines. These devices were usually made of enameled sheet metal and driven by a fractional horsepower motor encased with a fan to prevent overheating. One model was Western Electric's Clothes Washer, which debuted in 1924 and featured a state-of-the-art wringer.
Toasters
Toasters were first produced by such companies as the Armstrong Electric Co., Electro Weld Co., and Bersted Manufacturing. During the early period of innovation, different designs proliferated for toasting and releasing the bread, including machines with swinging baskets, drop-open doors, and the eventual industry-standard, the pop-up. One model was the A. Mecky Co's Ledig, which used twin reflector dishes to toast the bread with concentrated heat.
Vacuum Cleaners
Vacuum cleaners, which were manufactured by such companies as Hoover, BVC (British Vacuum Cleaner) and Electrolux, greatly reduced the amount of time spent cleaning rugs and carpets. The most popular early design was the stick model, which placed the working components of the machine (fan, motor and bag) on the handle and was lighter than other upright models.
Refrigerators
Refrigeration leaped ahead in the 1920s with the advent of the first affordable home refrigerator units. One drawback of these early refrigerators was that they used toxic chemicals, as was the case with the General Electric Monitor Top, which ran on either sulfur dioxide or methyl formate. Other notable models included the Electrolux Servel (Stays Silent Lasts Longer) and the cabinet-style Frigidaire AP-7.
Electric Stoves and Hotplates
The dawn of the electric stove and hotplate made it much easier to cook and serve hot meals. Some of these devices included the Armstrong Manufacturing Company's Table Stove, a portable cooker that could grill meat, toast waffles, and poach eggs; the Electra by Moffats Limited, an upright chrome and cast iron stove with a panel of ceramic knobs; and the enameled metal Electric Stove from Beach Foundry, which featured compartments for warming and storing food.
