Dualit toasters

[AudiPartner]

Are the timers meant to click really loudly as they're counting down??

Thanks!

[Calm Chris]

They are a clock work unit, they make noise.

Ours is unique, it counts down stalls at about 1/2 a minute left, which keeps the elements on, and (one day) will burn the house down.

I should strip it down and replace the buggered element in slot 1 (4 slot model) and clean the clock work mech, which will have a raisin or something equally uggh screwing the mech.

Unplug it, and set the timer to max a few times, maybe as a new unit it needs a loosen up!

[Tipex]

They are quite loud yes, I think they do a cheaper range now, but the proper old school industrial ones are quite loud.

[fizzbitt]

Just had a quick gander at what these toasters are and bloody ell they aint exactly on the cheap side. Whats so special about them bar the chrome etc?

[AudiPartner]

You've lost me Chris... what buggered element? And what raisin? I thought you said they're supposed to be noisy? Or are you just predicting?

[AudiPartner]

Just had a quick gander at what these toasters are and bloody ell they aint exactly on the cheap side. Whats so special about them bar the chrome etc?

They're hardcore! And they're supposed to toast all over, not just in lines like traditional toasters. I think in all honesty they're very good, so they're expensive. They're also fashionable, and therefore even more expensive.

[Calm Chris]

They are old arty farty, they do nothing a £25 item wouldn't- but they decorate the kitchen a bit.

Well that's a sort of fib, you can easily get new hot plates (and all component item's), and the general idea is that they don't age and should last a long time. Truth is they are made in England !

Lots of commercial kitchens, cafés etc use Dualit toasters and they were considered best of breed back in the day.

Same reason people buy Roberts radios, that even with DAB look like this, very retro luvvy :-

Chic Newcastle supporters, what with lime coloured walls may have matching Dualit kettle and toaster, and the radio.

[Tipex]

The proper Dualit toasters are purely function over form, they work, they are reliable, and they are simple, no pop up mechanisms or anything.

Originally you'd only find them in an industrial kitchen, but they have taken on a 'cool' kinda status and people have them at home now, which is something Dualit cottoned on to and started selling lesser toasters for those just looking for the badge.

[AudiPartner]

Yeah, mines a proper one! ;o)

[Calm Chris]

So's mine and it's 17 years old (straight 4 slot none of the 2 + sandwich section malarkey)

The idea (to expand on what was already mentioned by folk) is that they are sturdy enough to last for decades and that the few items that can fail- in mine it would be

8 x elements

1 x clock

setting switches

can all be easily replaced, so it is considered a no throw away device. The toast is good, but they don't like over sized hot cross buns.

Audi P- I was referring to mine, the above might explain the previous raisin remark

[scillyisles]

Dualit toasters produce much nicer toast than your normal everyday run of the mill toaster. We have them in our office kitchen. When we had to use a couple of £25 ones during our office move everyone complained saying the toast was just not the same.

[CarMad]

The gadget show did a toaster test and Dualit was in it and it didn't win a cheaper one cooked it better, was a nicer taste and had a more even finish.

But I'm sure they look good and last a long time.

[scillyisles]

The Gadget Show - you have got to be joking:p. Those clowns could not organise the proverbial p--s up in a brewery never mind come up with anything sensible about kitchen equipment such as toasters.

[Scotty]

I've got one and I guess it's the home market version.....but it is far better than the previous toasters we've had. The toast comes out really crisp on the outside and soft inside.

Not cheap but it works well. The thing about replacing the elements and meaning you don't bin the toaster is true but since the cost is gonna be more than a normal toaster it does make you wonder!

Oh and we got a Dualit kettle coz it matches and not coz it boils water better

[PeterS]

We've one of the old chrome ones too - it must be around 15 years old now. It's never gone wrong and, as others have said, it does make very good toast. We only stopped using it last year, and that's simply because we moved and the 'new' house has an aga. That makes even better toast...at a cost

[scillyisles]

I've got one and I guess it's the home market version.....but it is far better than the previous toasters we've had. The toast comes out really crisp on the outside and soft inside.

That is the key difference between the Dualit and your average toaster. The toast comes out really crisp on the outside and soft inside. Your averag toaster tends to produce toast which is crisp all the way through.

[eldavo69]

We've got a Dualit toaster, kettle and coffee machine. They're very shiny and do the job well. Am sure we'd cope with cheaper items but they do work well (and look nice).

[Luke]

Mine is about 15 y/old. First batch just under 2 mins, second batch 1min 30 secs max. Otherwise it's burnt to a cinder time. They're made in East London as I recall. Most people think they're Italian. Big, chrome and beautiful there's nothing better.

[Mort]

I'd like to have pne but keep bottling it when it comes to the price. I have a 4 slice taster at the moment (cant remember the name) but its so unbelievably slow that a few times I've had to make a sandwich whilst waiting for the toast to pop up.... bastard thing.