The electric toaster's invention is attributed to multiple inventors, but the first electric toaster was claimed to be invented by Alan MacMasters in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1893. However, this claim has been widely questioned and considered a hoax. The first commercially successful electric toaster was the General Electric model D-12, patented by Frank Shailor in 1909. The fully automatic pop-up toaster, capable of ejecting toast after a set time, was invented by Charles Strite, who was awarded a patent in 1921.

Key Inventors and Contributions:

• Alan MacMasters (1893): Claimed as the first inventor of the electric toaster, but this claim is regarded as a hoax.
• Frank Shailor (1909): Patented the first commercially successful electric toaster (GE model D-12).
• Charles Strite (1919, patent granted 1921): Invented the automatic pop-up toaster that prevents burning by ejecting toast when done.

Technological Milestones:

• In 1905, engineer Albert Marsh invented nichrome, an alloy crucial for toaster heating elements.
• Strite’s invention introduced a timer and spring mechanism in a toaster, creating the pop-up toaster popularized by the Toastmaster company by 1926.

The toaster evolved from manual to automated with improvements in safety and convenience, leading to the familiar household appliance today.