Man, thanks so much for this video! I just bought an old Sunbeam with the slider control for light/dark, and all it would do is burn the toast even at the lightest setting. I was able to fix it and make it usable!
Brings back memories of having one of these in our house when i was growing up. So i recently bought an AT-W model off Ebay that is in very good condition. One big disadvantage is that these don't accommodate thicker slices that come with English muffins or Bagels, or some bread loafs. Back when these toasters were manufactured, I guess thick slices were not as common as they are now. Still, the "keep it simple" technology of these toasters fascinates me.
Pop up toasters might never have been created if there was no standard slice thickness. Once the toasters existed anyone slicing bread sliced it to fit. It took 60 years or more for that self reinforcing trend diminish.
Joe- Spot on. I took the knob off and set it for an even lighter setting and that did the trick. I was being extra cautious in regard to the amount the lightness setting impinges on the lever. the perfect toast setting of this particular unit will yield a 3 sec cycle without bread as opposed to your toaster's 7 seconds. I wonder how long the kanthal wire elements are going to last? Should be good to go for another 69 years!!
Great! It occurred to me afterward that residual heat in the toaster from multiple attempts to adjust it could have thrown off the setting as well. Great job! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for this video. I now have my 20-3 AG Toaster cooking my toast again after 20 years in my parents' basement . I miss this kind of toast. Did not realize how cool it was.
Thanks for making to Sunbeam Toaster Video. We just bought one like the newer one today. There were 2 at the Estate Sale, same vintage, and I had them both and then decided maybe I should let someone else get one. They were $5 each. The one we bought was in their Pantry and looks to have had very little use. Looks absolutely new with no scratches, dents, or defects. I had read the ones with the yellow scale and the "Off" position are from the 1970's. No box, otherwise it would likely be a Museum piece. We knew that were collectable and kicking myself for putting one of them back. Anyway, it's nice to know how to adjust it and empty the crumbs. We don't need the Toaster but my Aunt had one when were were young and We thought is was very cool. Thanks again!
We have 20-A dated May 1951. It's a great old toaster. Yesterday my wife opened the trap door to clean out the crumbs and then made the mistake of turning it upside down to shake out any remaining crumbs. She's probably done this before but this time enough debris made it to the contacts (looks like old auto points) to keep them from closing and making the circuit when bread was dropped in. They're mounted vertically just above dark/light adjustment. I removed the outer case, did a thorough cleaning and touched up the contacts with 2000 grit sandpaper. Works great once again. T Ready for another 65 years of service! Lesson learned... Don't turn them upside down to get the crumbs out
+bricknboxer Thanks for letting us know! Although it sounds like it was about due for some service anyway; you've now experienced exactly what I was talking about!
Thank you for this great video. My T-40-1 was my grandmothers, then my mothers, and now it's mine, but the family wanted it gone because it burned everything. This fix was fast and easy, and saved the toaster for another generation :-)
Today I bought an AT-W brand new in the box never used Circa 1980. I've wanted one of these for years and when I stumbled across it for sale on Facebook I had to have it. It was only a half hour drive away and I paid $200 cdn for it. The Chrome is flawless like a mirror and it works beautifully. The booklet was missing from the box so I'll remember that thermostat adjustment tip for down the road. The old electrical element smell from it when I first plugged it in was wonderful. I love it!
been using mine since i m born 47 years, was my grandma's. it first start having no more control,but was still toasting. then after emptying crubs it stopped working completely. thanks to toasterPhreak i cleaned it properly,air gunned it...and everything is back like 40 years ago. going up and down smoothly toasting perfectly and temperature control working as well!!!!! So Happy!!!
Congratulations Ian! It really makes my day when someone lets me know how they fixed their toaster! Particularly when it's such a family heirloom like yours! Thank you!
I adjusted my T40 with you vid 3 yes ago and it toasts very well however shes haunted after your done it will begin to creep itself on empty and run a few seconds like you tested then shut off and a few minutes later begin to ghost cycle again. My Grandmother and Father must be having a good laugh. They loved this Sunbeam toaster. Hopefully a 1/4 turn clockwise ( lighter ) will fix this Sunbeam haunting feature.
It must be ever so slightly out of adjustment. I've never seen one act like that, if I understand what you're saying. I can't even really imagine one doing that, thinking about how they work. Please let me know if there's any problem with the adjustment.
I just got a T48, and everything was coming up black and smoking. Thanks for this tip on adjusting the thermostat. Edit to add: Yes indeed, all it needed was a half turn clockwise on that Allen key screw. I would have never otherwise known that screw was there or what it was for. Thanks.
@@ToasterPhreak I wonder if the eBay seller sold it because they didn't know how to adjust it. If that was the case, this lack of information worked out in my favor. ;-)
@@jonnda I'd say that was a likely scenario. Or, maybe they just commonly get things they consider junk, and sell it on ebay. Very few people will look for a solution to a problem when it's so much easier to give up! Good for you; you're not one of them!
@@ToasterPhreak I have wanted a radiant control toaster for a few years now, because I have heard they work so well and last for generations. That's motivation enough to make legend match reality.
Great video thanks for the explanation on adjustments. I have had one of these toasters for 40 years. My friend had one when I was a kid back in the 50s and I thought it was the cats pajamas
Just bought one of these, looks just like the newer one you have. It works good, not perfect, but good. However, it works better than any other vintage toaster I have
We had one growing up and I remember how you just dropped in the toast and the toaster knew what to do. So a few months ago I got a used one, on eBay of course. It's fantastic. It's more than a toaster. It's a member of the family. The other toaster is out to pasture.
Thanks for the vid I have a late mnodel and I'm trying to get the thermostat right. The vid I was watching said turn it counterclockwise for lighter toast!
Thank you so much for a very informative video. If the toaster shuts off after heating up, does it mean that the thermostat is broken? Which model of these do you prefer?
Well, no. If the toaster shuts off before the bread is cooked, or cooks it too long the thermostat needs adjusted. I've never even heard of one being actually broken, though I suppose anything is possible. The design of the toaster insures I that if no bread is in the cooking chamber the toaster will shut off very soon after it's activated. I would say that in my opinion the newer version with the slider on the front has clear advantages over the older design, but as to performance, there's really no discernible difference. Either toaster, if properly adjusted is an excellent choice.
I've got a 20-3 Sunbeam that us having problems. If bread is in the opposite side as the trigger, it will not go down. I've adjusted it using the screw at the bottom but it has not worked. Now i have to bounce the bread up and down a few times on the trigger side first until it starts to go down. Then i slip in the bread on the opposite side. Thanks for your help.
Hi Jason. The trigger is exactly that, a trigger. The only reason I've ever seen why the trigger failed is because the rack didn't rise far enough to reset at the end of a cycle or the rack raised far enough that the bread isn't heavy enough to trip the trigger. If you play with the adjustment screw, you can raise the rack until it just sets the trigger. It's a little tricky, but I get the screwdriver set in the slot, hold the toaster upright; and adjust it with the toaster right side up. If you don't do it this way, it's fairly tricky to get the setting right. Let me know if that helps or not.
@@ToasterPhreak I noticed this morning that if i placed the bread in the toaster and held pressure down on the bread . . . then the trigger mechanism would work? This is only if I keep pushing down on the bread.
What should the air gap be on the reed power switch? what holds it closed? what holds it open-surely not the teeny weak spring underneath the little pin from the bimetallic reed? a magnet in the toaster side of the switch maybe? (only asking because I'm trying to fix one someone else fiddled with. If I hold the switch shut lightly it will run, but the switch opens without pressure. looks like it's been bent or something removed)
I can't tell precisely what you mean from the language you're using. If you contact me through ToasterPhreak@gmail.com, then we can use pictures or even direct video chat to figure out what's going on. Fair warning: I do not fully understand the Sunbeam mechanism, so this will surely be a learning experience for both of us.
Thanks for this video. There’s some potential for stripping the screw and it’s very hard to fine replacement screws. It’s kind of hard to tell when the Allen key is properly seated to turn the screw. Any advice?
You should be able to insert the hex key and wiggle it to feel that it's seated well enough. It's usually not necessary to adjust the screw more than just a little bit. Adjust, check, repeat.
Yeah, mine too. It's very difficult to turn, though. Was yours? If so, how did you loosen it up? I'd rather not use WD40 on an area of the appliance that's so close to the bread. By the way, did you turn that screw clockwise or counter clockwise for lighter toast? Thanks!
I have the newer one with the slide control I got at an antique store for $18 in the box with a 69.99 original sticker still on it from 1994. It worked fine for about 2 months, now is completely dead. Nothing happened that would have damaged anything, it just won't turn on anymore. Any suggestions out there ? I'd really hate to trash it, because it's like new and hard to find. I just got lucky the day I found it. Thanks for any info.
It's really a pretty simple mechanism. You first need to see if the trigger is "setting". The most likely reason it's not working is that the adjustment screw in the center under the crumb tray door needs adjusted.
Joe- I have a nice t20b that has worked well for a long time, after cleaning it up when I acquired it. Recently it has been burning toast... I opened it up again cleaned it out and tuned the darkness adjustment. For medium toast I have it tripping consistently at 7 seconds (without toast) just like your video. When I put toast in it never trips burning toast to a cinder. Any suggestions as to what I should do? Thanks!!
That is really weird. I've never had an experience like that. I guess I'd start by trying to reset it to trip at 5 seconds when empty. If that had happened to me, I'd assume I'd accidentally changed the adjustment when I put the knob back on.
Cheers from montreal. I just disassembled & cleaned carefully my grandma & late father's canadian 1959 T40-1 sunbeam it controls the same way as the one you have with the slider control and it too is 1375W what would be the average time for a golden brown toast? I overcorrect my little screw trying to adjust the browning but at a certain point it locks up the contacts and i have to reset and start over again. The little side screw on the canadian T40-1 is a flat screw just like a old mixture screw on a carb.
Thanks for the question! Though I'm afraid my answer will be a bit disappointing. The amount of time it takes to cook the bread is partially dependent on the residual heat in the toaster. So while a cold toaster might take nearly 2 minutes, a hot toaster could take less than 1.5 minutes. Typically, as this video shows, it takes right at a minute forty seconds. In setting a T series toaster from Sunbeam, the method I showed here is the best I've discovered. About 7-8 seconds with no bread. I just run a cycle, let it reset, adjust, and try it again. Once it's in that range of 7-8 seconds I try it with bread and make finer adjustments. Trying to rush the process will simply drive you mad. Let me know how it turns out!
Looked a your channel to find the video on the T-35 but didn't see it.. can you link to it here? My bread isn't going down and I think I just pry off the knob (carefully) and adjust?
ua-cam.com/video/lQ3RAQ8cW2w/v-deo.html No. If you have problems with the toaster turning on it's either a power problem or a trigger problem, most often a trigger problem. The adjustment is to open the crumb tray and adjust the screw in the center in the bottom of the toaster. What usually happens is that the bread rack doesn't raise quite high enough to reset the trigger. You can usually reach inside and pull up the trigger to force a reset, but that just tells you it's not a power problem. You can probably also just turn the toaster upside down to reset the trigger as the force of gravity should be enough to reset it. Keep in touch if you have any problems, but leave the control knob alone till after the toaster is adjusted to work normally, even if the toast comes out too dark or too light. You want it to at least go up and down in a full cooking cycle, then if necessary adjust the control mechanism.
Thanks for the video Joe. My Sunbeam Radiant AT-W comes on when plugged in, (before putting the bread in) and stays on until I unplug it, even with the slider control all the way to left. Would this be an issue with the radiant control?
I think it would be. Search "Sunbeam bimetal" to find some pretty good videos about the control mechanism. grc53atbland has some good ones. Basically; the mechanism would be adjusted till it can no longer move far enough to work.
Hi, it's 9:25 Eastern time on Weds 7/26. I have a vintage sunbeam toaster, problem is the toast on the single slice side won't go down anymore without a million tries. I will clean it well to see if that helps but is there something else that can be done?
I've got no idea why I didn't see this sooner, but you need to adjust the height of the bread rack. The center screw under the crumb tray. Adjust the bread rack just a little bit higher.
Thank you so much for the excellent info...I have one of these on the way next week from eBay. Question....is the 20-3 AG a variant on the AT-W design? It looks just like what you have here in the video, but is marked 20-3 AG. Thanks!! And keep up the great work, it really means a lot to a noob/beginner!
There doesn't appear to be any real obvious logic to the model numbers and types. A few of them have somewhat different features and specs, but in essence, they're all the same. I'm sure you'll be happy with your purchase.
I have a Sunbeam toaster AT-W. I purchased it from the Sunbeam employee store in Elmhurst, Il in the mid-or late 70’s. It worksp fine, but I have to struggle with it to get the toast to trigger the switch that brings the bread down. It will toast bread, but only when it wants to. Any way to adjust this portion of the toaster? Any suggestions? My husband hates this toaster for this reason, but to me it’s as pretty as the day I bought it, and I won’t part with it unless it stops working altogether. Please help.
Sorry for the long delay in responding. Yes. The adjustment is the center screw in the bottom. Usually they become too lose and need to be tightened slightly.
I suppose that would be possible, technically speaking. But, you could do a trick of setting up a second load of equal-ish value wired in series with the toaster. Transformer would be best.
hey toasterphreak, I have the same toaster but the trigger bar wont reset after putting in a single piece of toast, any suggestions?? I have tried adjusting the bottom screw, and now it lowers and raises well but doenst pop the "trigger" bar
Unless there's some problem I haven't seen before, that's all there is to it. I hold the toaster cradled in my left arm, find the screw with my right and adjust the screw to raise the rack till it sets. You can check if that won't work by manually raising the rack and seeing if it sets the trigger. If it won't, then you're going to have to remove the shell to find out why. If it does work, the only thing you should need to do is to adjust the screw.
My toaster suddenly stopped working. When I slide the bread in the slot, it falls to lower itself. I have played with the tension but cannot seem toteigger the lowering mechanism. Any suggestions?
Sorry to take so long to get back to you. I'd be suspicious that it's a power supply issue. First, try it in a different outlet that you know is working. Next, check the cord for damage. After that you may need to take it apart to fix the problem.
I have one of the slide switch Sunbeams that not only toasts too dark, but also does not go down sometimes when you drop the toast in. When I calibrate the darkness, (have not done it yet), will that also cure the other problem? Or is something else needed?
Hello man! I bought one of these T20-C at an auction here in Brazil for 5 dollars. She is working but falls alone. Is activated only when you put the socket. What could I do? Thank you!
Usually that just means the trigger has been tripped. Once you've let it come back up on it's own it should be fine. Ask more if I didn't understand your question.
In most cases I would simply cut the cord shorter and if necessary replace the plug end. Otherwise, anything that makes the connection is probably acceptable, but I'd want to use something like 14-2 stranded wire like this. www.amazon.com/Superior-Electric-EC142-Feet-Electrical/dp/B002S9PUAG/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=14-2+appliance+cord&qid=1606873053&sr=8-4 The original cord is a flat cord like speaker wire which is carried by Home Depot www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-250-ft-14-2-Brown-Stranded-CU-CL3-Outdoor-Speaker-Wire-58051101/203355139 I couldn't say if they'll sell it by the foot or not, but combined with an appropriate plug www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-2-Pole-Flat-Plug-Black-R55-48643-0DE/202077705 and you're good to go.
To toasterphreak, Do you think the sunbeam t9 toaster is a good buy at $25 it's in original condition it works good! It's a little dirty but I know I can be cleaned? What do you think I should do?
I've never gotten close to the chance to get one for that little. I'd definitely snap it up! And if it's your first really old toaster you'll be amazed at the quality of toast it produces. Have fun!
You must adjust the trigger. In top find trigger. Open bottom to adjust screw in bottom. Adjust screw will raise and lower trigger. Trigger must come to top.
ToasterPhreak Okay! All right! I regulated the screw and the distance of the AT-W key. It's working! Now I'm with AT-W-70s and restoring the T20-C. I managed to buy here in Brazil, very rare object. I'll put a video for you to see a friend.
62Impalaconvert I get it from a local welding supply store. If you know your size, they're available on Amazon. Buy it slightly large, as it's cotton, and will shrink a little bit every time you wash it. Look for Armycrew or Fourney if shopping online. My advice though, is to go to a welding supply store and pick out a pair of them. I wash it by taking it in the shower with me, then wring it out inside a towel and air dry.
I have a T20 with control under the handle, not on the side. I'm having a difficult time getting it to toast darker. I've pulled out the dial and turned it as much as I can to the right, until the stop no longer rests on the edge and still the toast is light. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?
Billy. Unfortunately, I don't have a clue as to what's happening in your toaster. All I can tell you is that adjustments beyond the center in both directions are bad. It's been years since I had one of these apart to the point where I thought I could tell what's going on and I never encountered one that wouldn't adjust to normal with very little effort after removing the knob. Others on youtube have got very in depth into the timing mechanism, and if you keep searching and questioning them you might very well find the answer you're looking for. You might start with ua-cam.com/video/xgz1MKxzioM/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/lAfXZoLtR58/v-deo.html My wife has a T35 that's not working properly, which is essentially the same toaster, waiting in the shadows till I get the time to look into it. It's problem is closely related to what you're looking at, but I haven't looked at it yet, and my work schedule is such that I'm not likely to look at it any time soon. But send me an email at ToasterPhreak@gmail.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I do look into it. Trying to keep up with youtube comment postings tends to get problematic after just a few days. When I started the ToasterPhreak channel I was possibly the first person publicly posting information about these great old toasters where virtually anyone could find it and make use of it. Now there are others with better videos that get more in depth; which is what I hoped would happen. It's kind of strange in retrospect that this all started because of an old waffle iron that I repaired and a Sunbeam T35 from a second hand shop I had to learn to adjust. Yet I've never posted a video about any waffle iron and I never really got all that in depth with the Sunbeam toasters. I've fixed (usually minor adjustments) and given away something like half a dozen Sunbeams, yet never really learned exactly how they work.
Zoyx That's perfectly normal. It just means the trigger has been tripped. It should turn off and reset in a short time. I think you can even reach inside (unplugged) and 'help' the bread rack to come all the way up to reset the toaster. It really should just be a matter of the small adjusting screw I show you in this video, and the adjusting screw in the center underneath the crumb tray. Please let me know any problems you're having.
@@ToasterPhreak - Since I typed that comment, I've been figuring things out slowly. I've messed with both adjustment screws. Working, but still needs some fine-tuning. Just bit more fiddling. Thanks for your reply.
Sure. Posting a video here on youtube would be the best as it could be informative for everyone. But, you can contact me directly through gmail. It's just ToasterPhreak@gmail.com
A really great video about the Sunbeam toasters! ua-cam.com/video/Aelyvlfqf2w/v-deo.html
Man, thanks so much for this video! I just bought an old Sunbeam with the slider control for light/dark, and all it would do is burn the toast even at the lightest setting. I was able to fix it and make it usable!
That's wonderful! So glad you could make use of it!
Brings back memories of having one of these in our house when i was growing up. So i recently bought an AT-W model off Ebay that is in very good condition. One big disadvantage is that these don't accommodate thicker slices that come with English muffins or Bagels, or some bread loafs. Back when these toasters were manufactured, I guess thick slices were not as common as they are now. Still, the "keep it simple" technology of these toasters fascinates me.
Pop up toasters might never have been created if there was no standard slice thickness. Once the toasters existed anyone slicing bread sliced it to fit. It took 60 years or more for that self reinforcing trend diminish.
Joe- Spot on. I took the knob off and set it for an even lighter setting and that did the trick. I was being extra cautious in regard to the amount the lightness setting impinges on the lever. the perfect toast setting of this particular unit will yield a 3 sec cycle without bread as opposed to your toaster's 7 seconds. I wonder how long the kanthal wire elements are going to last? Should be good to go for another 69 years!!
Great! It occurred to me afterward that residual heat in the toaster from multiple attempts to adjust it could have thrown off the setting as well. Great job! Thanks for sharing!
i just bought one of these magnificent toasters and it was running light and this simple fix made it work perfectly thankyou so much
Thank you! Your comment shows others that they too can get these great old toasters working as intended!
Thank you for this video. I now have my 20-3 AG Toaster cooking my toast again after 20 years in my parents' basement . I miss this kind of toast. Did not realize how cool it was.
Thanks for the comment. I love to hear that people are finding these videos useful!
Thanks for making to Sunbeam Toaster Video. We just bought one like the newer one today. There were 2 at the Estate Sale, same vintage, and I had them both and then decided maybe I should let someone else get one. They were $5 each. The one we bought was in their Pantry and looks to have had very little use. Looks absolutely new with no scratches, dents, or defects. I had read the ones with the yellow scale and the "Off" position are from the 1970's. No box, otherwise it would likely be a Museum piece. We knew that were collectable and kicking myself for putting one of them back. Anyway, it's nice to know how to adjust it and empty the crumbs. We don't need the Toaster but my Aunt had one when were were young and We thought is was very cool. Thanks again!
Thanks for the comment. Glad you got a great deal!
We have 20-A dated May 1951. It's a great old toaster.
Yesterday my wife opened the trap door to clean out the crumbs and then made the mistake of turning it upside down to shake out any remaining crumbs. She's probably done this before but this time enough debris made it to the contacts (looks like old auto points) to keep them from closing and making the circuit when bread was dropped in. They're mounted vertically just above dark/light adjustment.
I removed the outer case, did a thorough cleaning and touched up the contacts with 2000 grit sandpaper. Works great once again. T Ready for another 65 years of service! Lesson learned... Don't turn them upside down to get the crumbs out
+bricknboxer Thanks for letting us know! Although it sounds like it was about due for some service anyway; you've now experienced exactly what I was talking about!
Thank you for this great video. My T-40-1 was my grandmothers, then my mothers, and now it's mine, but the family wanted it gone because it burned everything. This fix was fast and easy, and saved the toaster for another generation :-)
Thank you Ginny! I love to hear about people saving their toasters, particularly Grandma's toaster!
Today I bought an AT-W brand new in the box never used Circa 1980. I've wanted one of these for years and when I stumbled across it for sale on Facebook I had to have it. It was only a half hour drive away and I paid $200 cdn for it. The Chrome is flawless like a mirror and it works beautifully. The booklet was missing from the box so I'll remember that thermostat adjustment tip for down the road. The old electrical element smell from it when I first plugged it in was wonderful. I love it!
That's wonderful!
I just got this exact toaster, and the thermostat was way off. Thank you for showing how to fix that, it works much better now.
Thanks for the comment Elijah. Glad you got it working!
been using mine since i m born 47 years, was my grandma's.
it first start having no more control,but was still toasting. then after emptying crubs it stopped working completely.
thanks to toasterPhreak i cleaned it properly,air gunned it...and everything is back like 40 years ago.
going up and down smoothly toasting perfectly and temperature control working as well!!!!!
So Happy!!!
Congratulations Ian!
It really makes my day when someone lets me know how they fixed their toaster! Particularly when it's such a family heirloom like yours!
Thank you!
Thanks so much for the help! I’ve been burning bread anytime my slide is more than an centimeter away from off.
I'm glad if it helps you!
I adjusted my T40 with you vid 3 yes ago and it toasts very well however shes haunted after your done it will begin to creep itself on empty and run a few seconds like you tested then shut off and a few minutes later begin to ghost cycle again. My Grandmother and Father must be having a good laugh. They loved this Sunbeam toaster. Hopefully a 1/4 turn clockwise ( lighter ) will fix this Sunbeam haunting feature.
It must be ever so slightly out of adjustment. I've never seen one act like that, if I understand what you're saying. I can't even really imagine one doing that, thinking about how they work. Please let me know if there's any problem with the adjustment.
I just got a T48, and everything was coming up black and smoking. Thanks for this tip on adjusting the thermostat. Edit to add: Yes indeed, all it needed was a half turn clockwise on that Allen key screw. I would have never otherwise known that screw was there or what it was for. Thanks.
Thank you jonnda. Comments such as yours help convince others that they can do the same.
@@ToasterPhreak I wonder if the eBay seller sold it because they didn't know how to adjust it. If that was the case, this lack of information worked out in my favor. ;-)
@@jonnda I'd say that was a likely scenario. Or, maybe they just commonly get things they consider junk, and sell it on ebay. Very few people will look for a solution to a problem when it's so much easier to give up! Good for you; you're not one of them!
@@ToasterPhreak I have wanted a radiant control toaster for a few years now, because I have heard they work so well and last for generations. That's motivation enough to make legend match reality.
Thanks for the video! Now I can adjust it correctly. Love this toaster which was my grandmothers.
Wonderful, Lynne. Please drop us a line letting us know when you've got it working the way you want!
Great video thanks for the explanation on adjustments. I have had one of these toasters for 40 years. My friend had one when I was a kid back in the 50s and I thought it was the cats pajamas
Just bought one of these, looks just like the newer one you have. It works good, not perfect, but good. However, it works better than any other vintage toaster I have
Thank you so much!! We fixed our toaster because of your generous sharing of info. Bless you!
Thanks man, just the info I needed to fix my new toaster!
You're very welcome. Glad it helped!
We had one growing up and I remember how you just dropped in the toast and the toaster knew what to do. So a few months ago I got a used one, on eBay of course. It's fantastic. It's more than a toaster. It's a member of the family. The other toaster is out to pasture.
Don't you just love it when things actually work?
+ToasterPhreak yes, I do. But it's also a nostalgic reminder of days gone by.
Thanks for the vid I have a late mnodel and I'm trying to get the thermostat right. The vid I was watching said turn it counterclockwise for lighter toast!
So, did you get it adjusted right?
i have one and would not sell it for 500$ its the best toaster we have
Which model do you have?
Thanks for the precise directions!!!!
You are welcome! Hope it helps.
Mine has a slotted screw instead of a hex for the adjustment and CCW will lighten the toast.
Thanks so much for the adjustment information; very well explained, including which direction to turn the screw and what size allen wrench.
You're very welcome!
Thank you, I have plans to clean it and put a new cloth rayon cord!
I will try to add a picture of the toaster soon?
Well, congratulations; and, have fun!
Been a long time since we put these video's on Utube
Thank you so much for a very informative video. If the toaster shuts off after heating up, does it mean that the thermostat is broken? Which model of these do you prefer?
Well, no. If the toaster shuts off before the bread is cooked, or cooks it too long the thermostat needs adjusted. I've never even heard of one being actually broken, though I suppose anything is possible. The design of the toaster insures I that if no bread is in the cooking chamber the toaster will shut off very soon after it's activated. I would say that in my opinion the newer version with the slider on the front has clear advantages over the older design, but as to performance, there's really no discernible difference.
Either toaster, if properly adjusted is an excellent choice.
thanks for that! i was wondering how to adjust the bi metal spring on the atw's. now i can get it to not hockey puck all the toast!
Glad to be of help. Lots of luck!
Loved to buy one
The Australian 240V model is rated at 1600 watts - very quick toast production!
I had an opportunity to buy one some years back; but the cost of shipping would have been far more than I could afford.
I've got a 20-3 Sunbeam that us having problems. If bread is in the opposite side as the trigger, it will not go down. I've adjusted it using the screw at the bottom but it has not worked. Now i have to bounce the bread up and down a few times on the trigger side first until it starts to go down. Then i slip in the bread on the opposite side.
Thanks for your help.
Hi Jason.
The trigger is exactly that, a trigger. The only reason I've ever seen why the trigger failed is because the rack didn't rise far enough to reset at the end of a cycle or the rack raised far enough that the bread isn't heavy enough to trip the trigger.
If you play with the adjustment screw, you can raise the rack until it just sets the trigger. It's a little tricky, but I get the screwdriver set in the slot, hold the toaster upright; and adjust it with the toaster right side up.
If you don't do it this way, it's fairly tricky to get the setting right. Let me know if that helps or not.
@@ToasterPhreak I noticed this morning that if i placed the bread in the toaster and held pressure down on the bread . . . then the trigger mechanism would work? This is only if I keep pushing down on the bread.
I don't know Jason. That sounds as if the rack is adjusted too high. But I can't be sure.
What should the air gap be on the reed power switch? what holds it closed? what holds it open-surely not the teeny weak spring underneath the little pin from the bimetallic reed? a magnet in the toaster side of the switch maybe? (only asking because I'm trying to fix one someone else fiddled with. If I hold the switch shut lightly it will run, but the switch opens without pressure. looks like it's been bent or something removed)
I can't tell precisely what you mean from the language you're using. If you contact me through ToasterPhreak@gmail.com, then we can use pictures or even direct video chat to figure out what's going on.
Fair warning: I do not fully understand the Sunbeam mechanism, so this will surely be a learning experience for both of us.
Great information , thank you :)
Thanks for this video. There’s some potential for stripping the screw and it’s very hard to fine replacement screws. It’s kind of hard to tell when the Allen key is properly seated to turn the screw. Any advice?
You should be able to insert the hex key and wiggle it to feel that it's seated well enough. It's usually not necessary to adjust the screw more than just a little bit. Adjust, check, repeat.
@@ToasterPhreak I’ll try again. Thanks.
My AT-W has a flat head screw in same location, not an Allen screw.
Yeah, mine too. It's very difficult to turn, though. Was yours? If so, how did you loosen it up? I'd rather not use WD40 on an area of the appliance that's so close to the bread. By the way, did you turn that screw clockwise or counter clockwise for lighter toast? Thanks!
I have the newer one with the slide control I got at an antique store for $18 in the box with a 69.99 original sticker still on it from 1994. It worked fine for about 2 months, now is completely dead. Nothing happened that would have damaged anything, it just won't turn on anymore. Any suggestions out there ? I'd really hate to trash it, because it's like new and hard to find. I just got lucky the day I found it. Thanks for any info.
It's really a pretty simple mechanism. You first need to see if the trigger is "setting". The most likely reason it's not working is that the adjustment screw in the center under the crumb tray door needs adjusted.
Joe- I have a nice t20b that has worked well for a long time, after cleaning it up when I acquired it. Recently it has been burning toast... I opened it up again cleaned it out and tuned the darkness adjustment. For medium toast I have it tripping consistently at 7 seconds (without toast) just like your video. When I put toast in it never trips burning toast to a cinder. Any suggestions as to what I should do? Thanks!!
That is really weird. I've never had an experience like that. I guess I'd start by trying to reset it to trip at 5 seconds when empty.
If that had happened to me, I'd assume I'd accidentally changed the adjustment when I put the knob back on.
Cheers from montreal. I just disassembled & cleaned carefully my grandma & late father's canadian 1959 T40-1 sunbeam it controls the same way as the one you have with the slider control and it too is 1375W what would be the average time for a golden brown toast? I overcorrect my little screw trying to adjust the browning but at a certain point it locks up the contacts and i have to reset and start over again. The little side screw on the canadian T40-1 is a flat screw just like a old mixture screw on a carb.
Thanks for the question! Though I'm afraid my answer will be a bit disappointing.
The amount of time it takes to cook the bread is partially dependent on the residual heat in the toaster. So while a cold toaster might take nearly 2 minutes, a hot toaster could take less than 1.5 minutes. Typically, as this video shows, it takes right at a minute forty seconds.
In setting a T series toaster from Sunbeam, the method I showed here is the best I've discovered. About 7-8 seconds with no bread.
I just run a cycle, let it reset, adjust, and try it again. Once it's in that range of 7-8 seconds I try it with bread and make finer adjustments. Trying to rush the process will simply drive you mad.
Let me know how it turns out!
This is what the internet is for. Thank you.
Couldn't agree more! You're welcome.
Looked a your channel to find the video on the T-35 but didn't see it.. can you link to it here? My bread isn't going down and I think I just pry off the knob (carefully) and adjust?
ua-cam.com/video/lQ3RAQ8cW2w/v-deo.html
No. If you have problems with the toaster turning on it's either a power problem or a trigger problem, most often a trigger problem. The adjustment is to open the crumb tray and adjust the screw in the center in the bottom of the toaster.
What usually happens is that the bread rack doesn't raise quite high enough to reset the trigger. You can usually reach inside and pull up the trigger to force a reset, but that just tells you it's not a power problem. You can probably also just turn the toaster upside down to reset the trigger as the force of gravity should be enough to reset it.
Keep in touch if you have any problems, but leave the control knob alone till after the toaster is adjusted to work normally, even if the toast comes out too dark or too light. You want it to at least go up and down in a full cooking cycle, then if necessary adjust the control mechanism.
Fixed! Thank you.
Thanks for the video Joe. My Sunbeam Radiant AT-W comes on when plugged in, (before putting the bread in) and stays on until I unplug it, even with the slider control all the way to left. Would this be an issue with the radiant control?
I think it would be. Search "Sunbeam bimetal" to find some pretty good videos about the control mechanism. grc53atbland has some good ones. Basically; the mechanism would be adjusted till it can no longer move far enough to work.
Hi, it's 9:25 Eastern time on Weds 7/26. I have a vintage sunbeam toaster, problem is the toast on the single slice side won't go down anymore without a million tries. I will clean it well to see if that helps but is there something else that can be done?
I've got no idea why I didn't see this sooner, but you need to adjust the height of the bread rack. The center screw under the crumb tray. Adjust the bread rack just a little bit higher.
Thank you so much for the excellent info...I have one of these on the way next week from eBay. Question....is the 20-3 AG a variant on the AT-W design? It looks just like what you have here in the video, but is marked 20-3 AG. Thanks!! And keep up the great work, it really means a lot to a noob/beginner!
There doesn't appear to be any real obvious logic to the model numbers and types. A few of them have somewhat different features and specs, but in essence, they're all the same. I'm sure you'll be happy with your purchase.
I have a Sunbeam toaster AT-W. I purchased it from the Sunbeam employee store in Elmhurst, Il in the mid-or late 70’s. It worksp fine, but I have to struggle with it to get the toast to trigger the switch that brings the bread down. It will toast bread, but only when it wants to. Any way to adjust this portion of the toaster? Any suggestions? My husband hates this toaster for this reason, but to me it’s as pretty as the day I bought it, and I won’t part with it unless it stops working altogether. Please help.
Sorry for the long delay in responding. Yes. The adjustment is the center screw in the bottom. Usually they become too lose and need to be tightened slightly.
Thanks. I made the adjustment as you instructed. It work’s great now.
@@mlbuffaloe That's what I love to hear!
Is there any way of converting a 110v t35 to 240v without using a transformer? Rewire with thicker gauge nichrome?
I suppose that would be possible, technically speaking. But, you could do a trick of setting up a second load of equal-ish value wired in series with the toaster. Transformer would be best.
hey toasterphreak, I have the same toaster but the trigger bar wont reset after putting in a single piece of toast, any suggestions?? I have tried adjusting the bottom screw, and now it lowers and raises well but doenst pop the "trigger" bar
Unless there's some problem I haven't seen before, that's all there is to it. I hold the toaster cradled in my left arm, find the screw with my right and adjust the screw to raise the rack till it sets.
You can check if that won't work by manually raising the rack and seeing if it sets the trigger. If it won't, then you're going to have to remove the shell to find out why. If it does work, the only thing you should need to do is to adjust the screw.
My toaster suddenly stopped working. When I slide the bread in the slot, it falls to lower itself. I have played with the tension but cannot seem toteigger the lowering mechanism. Any suggestions?
Sorry to take so long to get back to you.
I'd be suspicious that it's a power supply issue. First, try it in a different outlet that you know is working. Next, check the cord for damage. After that you may need to take it apart to fix the problem.
I have one of the slide switch Sunbeams that not only toasts too dark, but also does not go down sometimes when you drop the toast in. When I calibrate the darkness, (have not done it yet), will that also cure the other problem? Or is something else needed?
Never mind. Just found your other video. Thanks a lot.
You're welcome. Thanks for the comment.
Hello man! I bought one of these T20-C at an auction here in Brazil for 5 dollars. She is working but falls alone. Is activated only when you put the socket. What could I do? Thank you!
Usually that just means the trigger has been tripped. Once you've let it come back up on it's own it should be fine. Ask more if I didn't understand your question.
Joe Sevy Ok man! I have a Sunbeam T20-C. Is there a way to put a more modern electrical system?
i have a Sunbeam T20B what type of cord do i use to replace the cord
In most cases I would simply cut the cord shorter and if necessary replace the plug end. Otherwise, anything that makes the connection is probably acceptable, but I'd want to use something like 14-2 stranded wire like this. www.amazon.com/Superior-Electric-EC142-Feet-Electrical/dp/B002S9PUAG/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=14-2+appliance+cord&qid=1606873053&sr=8-4
The original cord is a flat cord like speaker wire which is carried by Home Depot www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-250-ft-14-2-Brown-Stranded-CU-CL3-Outdoor-Speaker-Wire-58051101/203355139 I couldn't say if they'll sell it by the foot or not, but combined with an appropriate plug www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-2-Pole-Flat-Plug-Black-R55-48643-0DE/202077705 and you're good to go.
To toasterphreak, Do you think the sunbeam t9 toaster is a good buy at $25 it's in original condition it works good! It's a little dirty but I know I can be cleaned? What do you think I should do?
I've never gotten close to the chance to get one for that little. I'd definitely snap it up! And if it's your first really old toaster you'll be amazed at the quality of toast it produces. Have fun!
Glad to be of help!
Hello! I bought an AT-W equals that your left! When I put her in power longer lights. How can it lights only when put bread?
You must adjust the trigger.
In top find trigger. Open bottom to adjust screw in bottom. Adjust screw will raise and lower trigger. Trigger must come to top.
ToasterPhreak Okay! All right! I regulated the screw and the distance of the AT-W key. It's working! Now I'm with AT-W-70s and restoring the T20-C. I managed to buy here in Brazil, very rare object. I'll put a video for you to see a friend.
João Ruth That is wonderful! Thank you!
ToasterPhreak, do they still make your "mechanic's hat". I'd like to find one to protect my head when working under cars, etc. Thanks.
62Impalaconvert
I get it from a local welding supply store. If you know your size, they're available on Amazon. Buy it slightly large, as it's cotton, and will shrink a little bit every time you wash it. Look for Armycrew or Fourney if shopping online. My advice though, is to go to a welding supply store and pick out a pair of them.
I wash it by taking it in the shower with me, then wring it out inside a towel and air dry.
thanks for the info
You are very welcome.
To toasterphreak, Do you know anything about the sunbeam T-9 toaster?
Very little. I've never had one.
I have a T20 with control under the handle, not on the side. I'm having a difficult time getting it to toast darker. I've pulled out the dial and turned it as much as I can to the right, until the stop no longer rests on the edge and still the toast is light. Maybe I'm doing something wrong?
Billy.
Unfortunately, I don't have a clue as to what's happening in your toaster. All I can tell you is that adjustments beyond the center in both directions are bad. It's been years since I had one of these apart to the point where I thought I could tell what's going on and I never encountered one that wouldn't adjust to normal with very little effort after removing the knob. Others on youtube have got very in depth into the timing mechanism, and if you keep searching and questioning them you might very well find the answer you're looking for. You might start with ua-cam.com/video/xgz1MKxzioM/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/lAfXZoLtR58/v-deo.html
My wife has a T35 that's not working properly, which is essentially the same toaster, waiting in the shadows till I get the time to look into it. It's problem is closely related to what you're looking at, but I haven't looked at it yet, and my work schedule is such that I'm not likely to look at it any time soon. But send me an email at ToasterPhreak@gmail.com and I'll get back to you as soon as I do look into it. Trying to keep up with youtube comment postings tends to get problematic after just a few days.
When I started the ToasterPhreak channel I was possibly the first person publicly posting information about these great old toasters where virtually anyone could find it and make use of it. Now there are others with better videos that get more in depth; which is what I hoped would happen.
It's kind of strange in retrospect that this all started because of an old waffle iron that I repaired and a Sunbeam T35 from a second hand shop I had to learn to adjust. Yet I've never posted a video about any waffle iron and I never really got all that in depth with the Sunbeam toasters. I've fixed (usually minor adjustments) and given away something like half a dozen Sunbeams, yet never really learned exactly how they work.
Billy Nage you're turning the wrong way i did the same mistake whit my toaster 😦
My AT-W turns on when I plug it in, and won't shut off. Where do I start looking?
Zoyx That's perfectly normal. It just means the trigger has been tripped. It should turn off and reset in a short time. I think you can even reach inside (unplugged) and 'help' the bread rack to come all the way up to reset the toaster.
It really should just be a matter of the small adjusting screw I show you in this video, and the adjusting screw in the center underneath the crumb tray.
Please let me know any problems you're having.
@@ToasterPhreak - Since I typed that comment, I've been figuring things out slowly. I've messed with both adjustment screws. Working, but still needs some fine-tuning. Just bit more fiddling. Thanks for your reply.
@@Zoyx Good to hear you have it under control. Looking forward to hearing that everything is working right!
@@ToasterPhreak - Here's the current status. Working! Not perfectly smooth, but working. ua-cam.com/video/c_4sStz705Q/v-deo.html
Where is the crumb tray release?
On the bottom of the toaster. There's no button. It's just a tab extending from the end of the crumb tray. Pull it down, and the tray pops open.
Is there any way I can send you a picture or video?
Sure. Posting a video here on youtube would be the best as it could be informative for everyone. But, you can contact me directly through gmail. It's just ToasterPhreak@gmail.com
That M&M has the potential of being older than you, maybe even your parents.