Name: Sunbeam T-20-B Radiant Control Toaster (restored)
Brand: Sunbeam
SKU: 345724332019
Price: 157.88 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3.86 (244 reviews)

I did not refurbish this myself, but bought it on eBay from a user who refurbishes these toasters (tim5t2g). I never ended up using it, so it is in the same condition as when I received it. Below is the description from the original listing: Thank you for viewing my listing. Stunningly beautiful are the words for today's listing - please read below ~ Thank You! Once again, I begin my weekly listing by saying Thank You to those who have sent such nice and thoughtful emails. Your comments about the work I do to these toasters ( the best toaster ever made! ) are truly appreciated. Today, I am presenting a vintage Sunbeam T-20-B Radiant Control Toaster that has been restored to like-new condition. I have no other words to describe this one other than, it is absolutely stunningly, beautiful! This toaster is the third of three T-20-B's, all in like brand-new condition that I have been working on over the past few weeks! There are more (in addition to other Sunbeam surprises) that will be coming to Ebay over the next few weeks. And as usual, the toaster will be shipped in its own special box. Toaster details of this offering: Model: T-20-B Date Manufactured: Halloween, Monday, October 31, 1955 (date on bottom) Origin: Sunbeam Products, Chicago, Illinois Condition: Completely restored; chrome plating is near perfect (truly almost mint condition) with very minor "from use" scratches; the base is flawless Mechanics: Like brand-new condition About the T-20-B The T-20-B model, part of the T-20 series, was manufactured from 1952 to 1957. All the series and their various models are fantastic, but the T-20-B is my favorite because it features an extra spring that assists the bread carriage. The bread comes up faster than with the other models. But no matter which series or model, Sunbeam Radiant Control toasters built between 1949 and 1997 are the finest and best ever built by any manufacturer before or after; they are without peer. Sunbeam Products proudly advertised these toasters as "Automatic Beyond Belief" and rightly so! As many of you have read, but I think it is so important to share with people reading my listings for the first time, I donate a portion of each sale to the Good Samaritan fund at my church. This fund helps many people who are homeless and in need of food, gasoline, lodging, or rent/utility assistance, etc. It is a vital ministry that has helped many people over the years. My Sunbeam Story I grew up with my mother’s Sunbeam T-20-B. She received it as a wedding present in 1955, and after she passed away, I got it. I enjoy toast nearly every day! My grandmother also had one, and I am fortunate to have both of them. So, I have known toast only the Sunbeam way for my entire life. Of course, I’ve suffered through toast made from other toasters, but even at a very early age, I could identify the difference between toast made in Mom’s Sunbeam T-20-B and toast made in other brands. Currently, I use mom’s toaster for 6 months then switch to Grandmother’s for 6 months. I enjoy refurbishing these wonderful toasters. I got started when I learned of friends being frustrated with their modern toaster. I’d find one, restore it, and give it to a friend in need of excellent toast, instead of their usual too-light or burnt toast! I start by hunting for them in various nearby places (antique stores, garage sales, estate sales, flea markets, junk yards…). At first, it took me forever to finish one, but now I can disassemble, restore, and reassemble them in my sleep. Why Replace the Cord? Some of you have asked, "Why do you replace the cord?” The answer is easy: they are about 70 years old and they are unsafe! I see many of these toasters offered for sale that still have their original asbestos or rubber cords. These toasters were made when polarizing and grounding electrical appliances wasn’t practiced. I think the cord is unsafe by today’s standards. So, I replace the cords. Yes, they aren’t original, but I think doing so is the best option. With toasters that originally had cloth covered cords (models preceding the T-20-C), I replace them with a cord that has three conductor wires with a cloth sleeve on the outside that looks very original. With this new wire, the toaster now is polarized and grounded. I use high-temperature connectors and apply genuine 3M tape around the cord exactly like the original in the saddle holder (see picture), and I use a heavy duty three-prong plug that is grounded. With models beginning with the T-20-C and later, I use a new 16-gauge replacement appliance cord. If you look at the way the cord wraps around its port, there is no way to safely ground these toasters. I absolutely will not run a ground wire outside of the cord connection assembly because it is then exposed to the heat of the toaster which, in my personal opinion, is not safe. I wish I could use the cloth covered grounded cord, but it simply is too large. The toaster is not designed for that style of cord; it would require enlarging the hole in the Bakelite base. But I don't want to run the risk of ruining it. So, I use two conductor rubber wire them. I have discovered that once I complete all the work I do to these units (see below), they work as if they were brand new, just out of the box. Here is a complete description of the work I perform on each toaster: 1. The toaster is completely disassembled. 2. Metal parts are cleaned with oven cleaner. 3. All metal parts, chrome pieces, and the Bakelite base are then put through a genuine Hobart-made KitchenAid KDS-18 dishwasher on Pots/Pans Soak and Scrub cycle. This makes them shine as if they were just manufactured. I don’t use any type of scouring product on the chrome pieces. PLEASE... if you have one of these toasters, do not use scouring powder or scouring pads on the chrome plating. 4. All three heating elements are carefully cleaned with a de-greaser and a toothbrush. They are polished with glass cleaner so the reflective surface shines as if new for maximum heat reflection. 5. The bread carriage receives special attention so all baked-on soil is removed from every nook and cranny. 6. All chrome-plated surfaces and the Bakelite base are polished with a professional Eastwood buffer and the appropriate jeweler’s rouge to achieve the maximum scratch removal and shine of the chrome plating and base. 7. The "Sunbeam" logo on each end of the Bakelite base, as well as the engraved words "Lighter/Darker" on the small control knob are restored by using a white paint pen. 8. The toaster is reassembled. 9. The cord is replaced. See “Why Replace the Cord” above. 10. The spring tension on the bread carriage is adjusted for optimal lowering and raising of the bread. If the spring is too tight, it won’t raise efficiently; if too loose, the toaster will not operate correctly when the bread is dropped into the toaster. There is a fine balance. 11. The final adjustment is to fine-tune the thermostat. I work diligently (with lots of test slices of bread) to adjust the toaster to produce what I think medium toast should look like. As you can see in the picture, I clean the thermostat thoroughly and then polish all debris off of the unit with a Dremel. I then polish the contacts that actually activate the toaster and then install the thermostat in the spotlessly cleaned housing. 12. Once the toaster is fully reassembled, it is hand polished one final time with Simichrome and then waxed with 3M Professional Wax. This beautiful T-20-B Sunbeam Radiant Control Toaster is in ready-to-use condition for years to come! It would look beautiful on any counter, as they are timeless in design and style! In addition, they are a HUGE conversation piece of history! The best part, the toast is perfect!! If you purchase this toaster, you can be assured it will be very carefully packed and double-boxed. In addition, I am offering FREE shipping throughout the United States via USPS or UPS - whichever is more reasonable. Shipping outside of the United States will be handled by Ebay Global Shipping Program and International shipping charges will apply. My Pledge to You If, for any reason, you have trouble with your toaster for one year from the date of purchase, I will pay to have it shipped back to me, repair it, and then send back to you at no cost. This only applies to United States shipments only. As with any small appliance with an open heating element, unplug the toaster after each use. DO NOT leave the toaster plugged in when not in use. I cannot accept responsibility for any personal damage caused by the toaster. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me. I will do my best to answer them in a timely and efficient manner. Thank you for reading my listing. I send Peace and Respect to each of you.