The Toaster Project
Much has been said elsewhere about The Toaster Project, which I’m really pleased about! I’ll not try and reproduce it here, except to answer some questions and criticisms (which for the most part are totally welcome).
So, firstly, yes, I realise toasting bread over a fire would’ve been a lot easier. But was a piece of toast (or designing a better toaster) really the point of this project?
Secondly, yes I realise I cheated quite a lot! Though I really did naively set out with the intention of only using pre-industrial tools and methods, I soon realised that a) it was impossible, and b) by taking things like trains, or using wikipedia, or even not making my own shoes for walking to a mine, I was already in a sense ‘cheating’. In the end my view is that it’s the cheating rather than slavishly following the rules that make the project more interesting, and lead to discussions of questions other than whether it’s possible to make a toaster alone.
Thirdly, I now know about the essay I, Pencil, written from the perspective of a pencil ‘as told to Leonard E. Read’, and I think it’s fantastic!
I produced a book to accompany the exhibition of the Toaster Project, which is going to be published by Princeton Architectural Press. It’ll be coming out in Autumn 2011, so if you’re interested drop me an email and I’ll let you know when its out!
The original site for the project is here: www.thetoasterproject.org
October 31st, 2010 at 5:31 pm
The Toaster Project is an inspiring piece of work. I particularly like the pricetag on the last photo. Check out our comments on our blog.
November 22nd, 2010 at 10:00 pm
It is always intersting googling your name and seeing what comes up.
I like the work you have done in the toaster project, it gives something as ordinary as a toaster an interesting side.
January 13th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
Hi Thomas!
I loved your Ted Talk on your toaster project! I am an instructional designer living in Toronto, Canada. I am showing your video next week in a lecture I am holding on the innovation of the creative process at my work. I found the journey of you and your toaster very inspiring. And from a consumer’s prespective, terribly humbling!
Take care & keep creating,
Jenny
January 20th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Great TED Talk! I’m actually working on a project very similar to this one. You have a great perspective and are an inspiration dude.
February 15th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
I saw your talk on TED and latter a story on your policing genes on the NPR site. I loved this project and the Douglas Adams quote.
December 9th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
I heard about your book on NPR this morning. At first blush its an interesting idea. Though carrying it further if you are bound and determined to make an electric toaster from scratch, would you not also have to generate electricity to power it?
People have toasted (and baked for that matter) bread for centuries long before electricity was conceived.
Somebody looking to toast bread without a fixation on imitating a modern appliance would not think about extruded plastics and nickel heating elements and electricity. They would think bread plus heat.
What is the easiest way to evenly apply heat to a slice of bread with materials at hand. Manually turning a slice of bread seems less efforts than trekking to Siberia for nickel and inventing electric timers. Early factory manufactured toasters before age of electricity, were basically a metal rack you set over your wood or gas range burner. You watched and you turned your bread to get even brown on both sides. I once had a cheap camping version and wasn’t too impressed. What works even better is a simple cast iron skillet heated however one deems practical. Toss slice bread in and then turn it. Does nice job. Pretty simple mechanism that would last several lifetimes. though I suppose a flat rock over a fire would do about same thing and you wouldn’t have to track down any iron ore. Think of a rock simular to modern pizza stone.
I will say as far as cheap electric toasters go, they are cynically made with a very short lifespan like many modern products. Long ago when it became obvious I couldnt buy a durable electric toaster that didnt smell like hot plastic (had handle melt on one) and that would last more than couple years, I first tried the wire toaster rack sold for camping, then settled on just using a cast iron skillet that potentially could last many lifetimes. I know, I’m a neo-luddite for not supporting modern capitalist system of buying more and more specialized stuff over and over again.
January 5th, 2012 at 2:45 am
Just read your book and loved it ! i probably learned more about the material you used in this one book than i ever did in school , which is a little sad and tells a lot about the way we learn… completely detached from the stuff we are learning about.
Great book and very witty , made me laugh a lot . good luck with your other projects.
January 5th, 2012 at 11:50 pm
The Toaster Project puts me in mind of something I read many years ago – ” I Pencil ” – a must read for anyone interested in economics and government control of production. Link to the pdf below:
http://www.commonsenseeconomics.com/Readings/I.Pencil2006.FEE.pdf?nid=316