Comments by "James LaBarre" (@SenileOtaku) on "The Electromagnet in Your Toaster" video.

  1. Actually, on older toasters (definitely the 1960's) you could push the lever down when the toaster was unplugged, since they didn't use an electromagnet back then. The bimetallic strip would be turned tighter or loosed by the knob, and pushing down the lever completed the circuit. The bimetallic strip would be heated, and eventually it's expansion would disengage the catch that held the lever down. Then a spring would pop the toast carrier up. You could release the toast earlier by pulling the lever out, which would release the catch.
    1