Electric Toas-Tites and more Bar-B-Buns history

Some of you may know that Boy and I have long been curious about the electric Toas-Tites…what they look like, how they work.  It’s a bit of Bar-B-Buns history that we have only heard tell of on the rare eBay listing.

Then recently, all that changed when we received an email from Sondra D.  I cannot explain how excited I was to read this email myself so here it is for your own Toas-Titing pleasure.

Subject: Electric Toas-Tite

We have one!

And our Dad worked at Bar-B-Buns here in Cincinnati, Ohio in the late 1940’s & early 1950’s.  He was one of the very few people who put them together and wired them.  Bar-B-Buns was one of his first jobs, he was about 20 years old when he started working there.

The Toas-Tite is one of favorite memories of growing up and Dad had several recipes he used, including making hot fruit pies, which he covered with powered sugar.  It’s still in good shape and still works!

In fact I cleaned it thoroughly just yesterday, since it had been stored away for 20 years.  We (siblings and I, since my Mom recently passed away, it is ours) are considering having it restored (new paint and such).

Yes, you’d be correct that this heavy duty electric model was produced for restaurants.  My Dad use to tell a story about having installed several in Harlan D. Sanders  – THE Colonel Sanders original restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky.  Dad knew the Colonel and told us a few stories about him and doing the installation and repair on his other restaurant equipment.  Of course this is before the Colonel began selling franchises for his chicken recipe!!

Its was a surprise to find your web site and amazing to see the photos of the 2 electric ones – and the patent.  We also have an original hand held model from 1949!
I’m certain Dad new the Inventor Mitchell A.Hall. (My brother is even named Mitchell! – Perhaps where Dad & Mom got the name?)

It was certainly fun seeing the information on both models and the recipes!

Now you know why my jaw literally dropped when I started reading!  A huge, huge thanks to Sondra for reaching out and letting us post her family story.

For pictures from eBay listings and more on the patent of the electric Toas-Tite, check out “More From Bar-B-Buns: An Industrial Electric Toas-Tite”.