Old mechanical wonders still in American households

By Terry Maurer, What It's Worth

The items readers ask about in today's What's It Worth are mechanical marvels -- in their own way.

One can be found in many American kitchens, the other is a toy for both big and little boys.

Read on to explore mechanical technologies from both Germany and America.

Q. My brother in England received this little working steam engine as a gift about 50 years ago. Now it has come back to us. I know it was made by "Fleischmann," but not much else. Are these collectible?

-- Barbara in Pasco

A. Fleischmann was founded in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1887 and still is in business today. From the start, the company made a wide range of toys, many of them tin. Up to World War I, their products included windup ships, toy trains and other vehicles.

The company has shifted from longtime family ownership to a corporate setting, when Germany's Modelleisenbahn GmBH purchased the firm earlier this year.

Now known exclusively for model trains, they do export their toys all over the world, however the brand is really little-found outside of Europe.

Fleischmann made several different model steam engines in the mid-20th century and joined a large group of companies in that field. The best-known of those firms in America is Weeden, which made similar engines for years in Massachusetts.

This example seems to have all of the original parts and very little wear.

In today's market, it certainly is collectible and would be priced at about $125.

Q. My "Toast-O-Lator" is marked "Model J" on the bottom. Its story is that my dad inherited the toaster from his grandpa. When my parents met in 1979, my dad was using it as his everyday toaster. Can you give me any details?

-- Anne in Richland.

A. An incredibly complex device for toasting bread one piece at a time, the Toast-O-Lator is an iconic brand to collectors.

The Toast-O-Lator Company was formed and started making these machines in 1938. Four different U.S. patents were issued covering the technology used in the machine.

In addition to their different, Art Deco look, these toasters had a completely new way of operating.

In most bread toasters, you put a slice or two into a slot, the coils heat up on both sides and when the bread reaches your desired doneness, the toast pops up.

Not with the Toast-O-Lator. This ingenious device ran the slice of bread between the coils, with a series of complicated gears and teeth.

You set the toaster for how brown you wanted the toast, put a single slice into that slot at one end and it was carried along through the Toast-O-Lator to the other end, where it came out ready to butter. The porthole is just that, a device for watching as your toast went by.

The Art Deco styling goes back to the mid-1930s. However, when we examined this particular machine, it bears marks indicating a production year of 1948. Toast-O-Lators first came to market with Model A and Model B. This Model J machine is the most-commonly found today.

The factory, located in Long Island, N.Y., was converted to military production during World War II (making gun turrets for airplanes used to train bomber crews) and returned to civilian production by reintroducing old models. After the war, Model J was introduced.

Toast-O-Lators are complicated mechanical devices and the average one found today probably doesn't work. We've read more than one story about broken track systems which tempt people to push the bread through with a knife. Of course, that's a very dangerous thing to do. It could short out the machine, give the user a shock and might start a fire.

Anne told us her machine was working the last anyone knew of. She also says the cloth-covered cord is frayed. That should be replaced before even thinking about plugging it in. Being careful about the condition of the cord and plug is good advice for any old appliance like this.

Values for Toast-O-Lators range from good to extraordinary. One machine, the Model C, which was built for just a short time, sold on eBay for just over $5,000.

Only about 100 Model C's are thought to exist and they are the top of the heap for toaster collectors. What makes them unusual and valuable is that one side is completely see-through. You can watch the entire toasting and transportation process.

Depending on condition, Model J machines generally sell for between $100 and $150.

* Terry Maurer, a Tri-City personal property appraiser and antique dealer, is a member of the Certified Appraisers Guild of America. You may submit your antiques and collectible questions to What's It Worth by e-mail to whatsitworth@clearwire.net.

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Sunday, Oct. 05, 2008

Old mechanical wonders still in American households

By Terry Maurer, What It's Worth