The Breakfaster – A Toaster/Cooktop Combination – by Calkins Appliance Corp A3185
An utterly entrancing kitchen gizmo. No bigger than a toaster.
Measures 5 1/4″ high x 11″ wide x 7 1/2″ deep.
A collector, Spencer Dean Steadman, writes,
‘Breakfaster Model T2’ 1936-38 manufactured by the Calkins Appliance Co. of Niles, Michigan.
With its Art Deco styling the Breakfaster was attractive, but also an example of a multi-purpose small appliance. Made between 1936 and 1938, the Breakfaster was a combination cooking appliance that was designed for people with limited kitchen space.
The shell and interior are aluminum with Bakelite handles. A drawer pulls out to insert a piece of bread for toasting. On top there is a hotplate where a pot or pan could be placed. The sides are vented to allow the heat to escape while toasting bread, but unfortunately it also meant that it would be useless as an oven. The Breakfaster proved to be somewhat difficult to use, as there wasn’t an on/off switch, meaning it could only be turned off by unplugging it.
The Breakfaster was only manufactured for two years. It was advertised as a small appliance that could toast your bread while making your oatmeal in a pot or frying an egg in a pan on the heating plate on top. It proved not very efficient, so they weren’t used very much and for this reason examples in decent shape can still be found.”
We still would love to plug it in and take it for a spin.
