The Toaster Project
Or a Heroic Attempt to Build a Simple Electric Appliance from Scratch
NPR Summary
Thomas Thwaites, a graduate student at London's Royal College of Art, sets out to build a toaster from scratch — not just an object that toasts bread, but one that aesthetically and mechanically replicates the ubiquitous $6 drugstore toaster. After dissecting a live toaster to uncover its 400 separate parts, he embarks on a project that takes nine months, thousands of dollars, and nearly 2,000 miles of travel.
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Easily my favorite book this year, The Toaster Project should be required reading for artists, designers, consumers and anyone who has ever bought or thrown away a toaster. Thomas Thwaites, a graduate student at London's Royal College of Art, sets out to build a toaster from scratch — not just an object that toasts bread, but one that aesthetically and mechanically replicates the ubiquitous $6 drugstore toaster.
After dissecting a live toaster to uncover its 400 separate
—Lucia Silva
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