Edicraft Electric Appliances by Thomas A. Edison Inc.
Posted: Sat May 13, 2017 10:55 am
I thought some of you may be interested in seeing my (sadly incomplete) collection of Edicraft electric appliances. These were introduced by Thomas A. Edison Inc. in the late 1920s as a luxury appliance line, but none of them sold well, and were discontinued in 1934 due to lack of demand during the depression. To find an Edicraft appliance is a rarity today. The full line included 2 models of "Siphonator" coffee makers (one rectangular and one round), an automatic iron, an automatic toaster (clamshell), a standard toaster, an automatic waffle baker, and a sandwich grill. I'm fortunate enough to have come across 3 of these so far (and always looking for more! ...hint...hint 
)
Siphonator
This is an interesting and unique coffee maker, especially for the era. Instead of percolating the coffee as was standard then, hot water from the left chamber was heated and pumped up into the tube and dispersed over an enclosed basket containing the ground coffee. At the end of the brewing process, you are left with coffee in the right chamber, and hot water in the left, dispensed via 2 separate spigots. The hot water was presumably to be used for tea or to weaken the coffee. Sadly it only makes a small amount of coffee. All of the internal parts were made of heavy duty stainless steel, and I believe the entire thing is insulated using concrete, it weighs a ton!
Automatic Toaster
Another interesting design, this clamshell toaster holds the bread in the center, and when the timer reaches the desired toasting time, the sides containing the heating elements fall away from the toast. The time is set on the front, and a lever on the side is pulled back to start the timer and turn on the toaster. I also have a full page advertisement for this toaster which hangs in my kitchen.
Automatic Iron
About as interesting as an early iron can get I suppose. It was automatic after all! Mine appears to have been well loved judging by the paint loss on the handle.
Dealer brochure
I just recently acquired a beautiful Art Deco dealer brochure showcasing the automatic toaster and Siphonator. I believe this to be early, as it references only the first 2 products introduced, and they are still shown with socket plugs.
)Siphonator
This is an interesting and unique coffee maker, especially for the era. Instead of percolating the coffee as was standard then, hot water from the left chamber was heated and pumped up into the tube and dispersed over an enclosed basket containing the ground coffee. At the end of the brewing process, you are left with coffee in the right chamber, and hot water in the left, dispensed via 2 separate spigots. The hot water was presumably to be used for tea or to weaken the coffee. Sadly it only makes a small amount of coffee. All of the internal parts were made of heavy duty stainless steel, and I believe the entire thing is insulated using concrete, it weighs a ton!
Automatic Toaster
Another interesting design, this clamshell toaster holds the bread in the center, and when the timer reaches the desired toasting time, the sides containing the heating elements fall away from the toast. The time is set on the front, and a lever on the side is pulled back to start the timer and turn on the toaster. I also have a full page advertisement for this toaster which hangs in my kitchen.
Automatic Iron
About as interesting as an early iron can get I suppose. It was automatic after all! Mine appears to have been well loved judging by the paint loss on the handle.
Dealer brochure
I just recently acquired a beautiful Art Deco dealer brochure showcasing the automatic toaster and Siphonator. I believe this to be early, as it references only the first 2 products introduced, and they are still shown with socket plugs.
