Who invented the toaster?

The first electric toaster was invented in Edinburgh, Scotland, by Alan MacMasters in 1893. Some early toasters used iron as the toasting element, but this melted at high temperatures, and electricity supplies were less reliable at the time of the invention, so usage of electric toasters was initially limited.

The modern version of the toaster was invented in 1919 by Charles Strite. This model included a timer that allowed for a set time to heat the toast to about 310 degrees Fahrenheit before popping out of the toasting chamber. The Strite toaster was reworked and released as the Model 1-A-1 Toastmaster by the Waters Genter Company in 1926.