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Pratt, Ks —
We might pass by it everyday without a second thought, but the lowly toaster has been a silent and unlikely time capsule, reflecting technological advances and innovation from atop kitchen counters.
It didn’t put a man on the moon or project Gone With the Wind onto movie screens or put the power of the Internet into our pockets. It uncomplicatedly cooks our bread and the sheer simplicity of this machine makes it a fascinating study.
Without it we would have to order “eggs and bread.” Our sandwiches would lack that buttery crispiness and a small wooden-shelved display in the Pratt County Historical Museum would be empty.
If anyone can “talk toast” it’s Haviland native Wayne Konkel, the owner of the largest toaster collection in Kansas and one of the largest collections in the United States.
“It took me, oh about ten years before I really got serious about collecting them,” explained Konkel. “I’d go to auctions and old flea markets in towns and stuff and pick up toasters. I don’t display them until I clean them up, but, I would say [my collection is] probably 225 toasters.”
Konkel traces his interest to a discovery in the basement of the family home.
“Probably in the late 1950s I found two toasters in my mom’s basement in Haviland, They were rusty so I brought them home and cleaned them up and got them going.”
Konkel would love to describe and show off the family heirlooms, the seeds by which his mighty collection has grown, but after 50 years of collecting, he’s forgotten which ones they are.
“I made a big mistake, I’ve got them somewhere in my collection,” quipped Konkel, who has since corrected his early mistake. “A guy told me when I was collecting them to write down where I got them, because one day I would want to know. So now I write it down.”
Konkel’s interest extends past the aesthetics of the iron, chrome and porcelain bread-roasters. He’s learned toaster history and technique. If there were ever a Toaster University, Konkel could be the dean.
Sitting comfortably in the lobby of the Pratt County Historical Museum, Konkel delights in explaining the history of the delicate heating coil that makes up the guts of most toasters, new and old.
According to Konkel, toaster manufacturers had a unique challenge. They needed a wire that could withstand the constant off-and-on. And it needed to get very hot, very fast. “It wasn’t until about 1910 that they made a better wire for toasters and they would last longer. That all of the on and off would crumble the wires,” he said.
We might pass by it everyday without a second thought, but the lowly toaster has been a silent and unlikely time capsule, reflecting technological advances and innovation from atop kitchen counters.
It didn’t put a man on the moon or project Gone With the Wind onto movie screens or put the power of the Internet into our pockets. It uncomplicatedly cooks our bread and the sheer simplicity of this machine makes it a fascinating study.
Without it we would have to order “eggs and bread.” Our sandwiches would lack that buttery crispiness and a small wooden-shelved display in the Pratt County Historical Museum would be empty.
If anyone can “talk toast” it’s Haviland native Wayne Konkel, the owner of the largest toaster collection in Kansas and one of the largest collections in the United States.
“It took me, oh about ten years before I really got serious about collecting them,” explained Konkel. “I’d go to auctions and old flea markets in towns and stuff and pick up toasters. I don’t display them until I clean them up, but, I would say [my collection is] probably 225 toasters.”
Konkel traces his interest to a discovery in the basement of the family home.
“Probably in the late 1950s I found two toasters in my mom’s basement in Haviland, They were rusty so I brought them home and cleaned them up and got them going.”
Konkel would love to describe and show off the family heirlooms, the seeds by which his mighty collection has grown, but after 50 years of collecting, he’s forgotten which ones they are.
“I made a big mistake, I’ve got them somewhere in my collection,” quipped Konkel, who has since corrected his early mistake. “A guy told me when I was collecting them to write down where I got them, because one day I would want to know. So now I write it down.”
Konkel’s interest extends past the aesthetics of the iron, chrome and porcelain bread-roasters. He’s learned toaster history and technique. If there were ever a Toaster University, Konkel could be the dean.
Sitting comfortably in the lobby of the Pratt County Historical Museum, Konkel delights in explaining the history of the delicate heating coil that makes up the guts of most toasters, new and old.
According to Konkel, toaster manufacturers had a unique challenge. They needed a wire that could withstand the constant off-and-on. And it needed to get very hot, very fast. “It wasn’t until about 1910 that they made a better wire for toasters and they would last longer. That all of the on and off would crumble the wires,” he said.
Then Konkel explained that once manufacturers solved their wiring problems, they encountered an even bigger problem.
“Back then there wasn’t any copyright. I have two toasters that work exactly the same. One was made on the East Coast and one was made on the West Coast. They are almost identical but they have different names. Somebody infringed on someone else’s patent,” Konkel chuckled.
With such an interesting collection, sitting amongst large, old fire trucks and wagons, massive printing presses and huge historic façades, Konkel’s collection can seem underwhelming at first glance. But visitors that take a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship and engineering of these simple machines will be able see their beauty. And if you can’t make it to the museum to see them, wait patiently, Konkel has been known to display some of his prized toasters at area events.
“I want someone else to enjoy them,” Konkel mused. “I take them to schools and events and talk about them. Most people are thrilled to death about them. I used to take them to the rest homes and the older people really, really love them. Middle-aged people and younger, could care less. But middle-aged and older, they love them. I had one toaster from about 1940 and a woman said ‘That’s the one! That’s the toaster my grandma had when I went to grandma’s house and got some toast.’”
Do you or someone you know collect unusual things? Call us at 620-723-2115 or send us an email!
