Need toaster help

[Pitchy]

I`ve been collecting vintage toasters, i have two that won`t heat as well on one side of the toast.
Ireally like the one in the first picture, ya have to lift the toast manually when done which a bell rings to let ya know.
But the heating coils get real bright in the center two panels but weak in the two outside panels.
I`ve checked all the wires and cleaned everything to no avail, can someone explain to me whats going on.

[Griff]

I'm probably as bad at electrics as I am at plumbing... but, I suspect the coils have lost their resistence and 'lectricitty flows too freely to build up heat. How to fix... sorry bro', you're on yer own!

[Griff]

Oh yeah, nice looking collection!

[Pitchy]

You probably hit the nail on the head Griff.
See the toast-o-lator in the third pic on far right, ya put the bread in one end and it walks through and out the other.
Thanks.

[Beaker]

Resistance is futile.

[Rusty]

Pitchy just be careful with those things maybe you could work on them thru a GFI plug. We'd hate to lose you to a toaster.

Reminds me of a tombstone I saw once:

Here lies Juan Torres Garcia. He was a good father and husband but a
poor electrician.

[Blaine]

Back in the day, only the upper crust could afford those....Now, everybody has the bread for a new toaster.

[Pitchy]

Pitchy just be careful with those things maybe you could work on them thru a GFI plug. We'd hate to lose you to a toaster.

Reminds me of a tombstone I saw once:

Here lies Juan Torres Garcia. He was a good father and husband but a
poor electrician.

i hear ya.

[COSteve]

Back in the day, only the upper crust could afford those....Now, everybody has the bread for a new toaster.

[Pitchy]

Back in the day, only the upper crust could afford those....Now, everybody has the bread for a new toaster.

Missed that, A toast to ya bro.

[pwl44m]

I think Ur Potentiometer done sprung a leak. Jest guessin. does it do it with 2 peices of bread or just 1 ?
Perry

[Pitchy]

I think Ur Potentiometer done sprung a leak. Jest guessin. does it do it with 2 peices of bread or just 1 ?
Perry

It`s the two outside coils that don`t heat up as hot.
Wonder if i can rewind it with the wire from another newer toaster.

[Alphawolf45]

The problem has to be that the 'bad' heating elements have increased their resistance where they are connected...Most likely where they are crimped into the circuit some corrosion has squinched down on the flow of electrons....You need to go over it with a good ohm meter.....

[pwl44m]

Are You trying this empty or with Bread in it, might make a difference.
Perry

[vancelw]

I had a clothes dryer heating element do that once. Turned out to be a cracked insulator that was letting the current go to ground. First part of the coil would work and the second part would not as little current was going through it. Rigged up a new insulator and it worked like a champ.

[Mike D.]

Our old toaster stopped heating so I gave it a .38 Super "repair job". 4 holes and we really had to buy a new one.

A few days ago I saw at least 20 vintage toasters in a Soquel, CA, antique shop. Too high up on a shelf to see the prices, so didn't look.

[Grizz]

You can buy resistance wire brand new, if you really knead it. Watts wrong with that idea?

I think the 3in1 will make the toast taste funny, but to yeast his own.

[Pitchy]

Dern wires are so thin where they go through the bottom to where they hook on, i`m afraid of breaking one. At least it works some as a antique this way.
PUNS

[Pitchy]

Are You trying this empty or with Bread in it, might make a difference.
Perry

It doesn`t make any difference Perry, the outside ones only heat a third as much as the inside ones.
This toaster was made in 1920, old fanny burp.

[Pitchy]

Pic of the inerds,
Took all the wires off and put them back on what you can see on the white block and it works better. Still brighter in the middle panels but useable.

[Blaine]

You can buy resistance wire brand new, if you really knead it. Watts wrong with that idea?

I think the 3in1 will make the toast taste funny, but to yeast his own.

Hey, you got a rise with that one...

[Grizz]

You can buy resistance wire brand new, if you really knead it. Watts wrong with that idea?

I think the 3in1 will make the toast taste funny, but to yeast his own.

Hey, you got a rise with that one...

Thanks Blaine

I see that some ideas have a little resistance:

really knead it. Watts wrong with that

Grizz

[Pitchy]

I wonder where the resistance is, is it the wire itself or is it the bus bar that all the wires attach on that white part in the picture.
There wasn`t any corrosion under the wires where the attach so i`m still lost on the cause.

[Grizz]

I wonder where the resistance is, is it the wire itself or is it the bus bar that all the wires attach on that white part in the picture.
There wasn`t any corrosion under the wires where the attach so i`m still lost on the cause.

The wire itself is the resistor. I forget what it is called but maybe nichrome? It is similar to the filament in real light bulbs.

It's possible for them to wear out, like electric stove elements.

It' possible it's a "feature" to regulate the heat zone.

[gcs]

Yes it's Nichrome wire, I guess it's available, my Grandpa had an appliance repair shop when those things were new, there's probably a roll of it in the shop ....somewhere.

[Pitchy]

Thanks, just weird that on two toasters it is only the outside panels that are week and the inside panels are bright.
Thanks for the ideas, i guess a rewind would be in order if i want it working perfect or live with toast burnt on one side.

[adirondakjack]

Buy ya some nichrome wire of the right diameter and use a rod of appropriate diameter as a winding form and make ya some replacement coils. That's all they did when they made it..... Also check yer antique cords for "black wire disease" where black corrosion infects the wire and makes the CORD get hot when it ought not to.

Google "vintage type cotton covered cord" and "nichrome resistor wire? Neither is that hard to find. I even found vintage, NOS plugs with the old bakelite housings when I redid old radios.

[Pitchy]

Buy ya some nichrome wire of the right diameter and use a rod of appropriate diameter as a winding form and make ya some replacement coils. That's all they did when they made it..... Also check yer antique cords for "black wire disease" where black corrosion infects the wire and makes the CORD get hot when it ought not to.

Google "vintage type cotton covered cord" and "nichrome resistor wire? Neither is that hard to find. I even found vintage, NOS plugs with the old bakelite housings when I redid old radios.

Thanks, will do.