Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Toastmaster
GMcB's designers were sought after throughout the world, and many items that are beloved housewares came from the GMcB corporation with other names attached.
"During the years that Gladding-McBean / Franciscan created their dinnerware lines, they also contracted with several companies to create promotional items. The most remembered of these is the Toastmaster line, which was created for McGraw Electric Company, but Sunkist, Sperry, Jiffy and others all contracted with Franciscan to produce quality items for their promotions".
More than a dozen items were created for the Toastmaster company to entice home makers to enjoy not just the new electric toast makers, but to display them proudly and plan their entertaining events around them. 
The writers in Toastmasters promotions department created whole scenarios about how Toastmaster was THE most important item in the young brides life, the family's weekend, the busy office worker's morning.
The various items came in ONLY the color scheme shown, and were only available in packages with Toastmaster items.
Toastmaster contracted with several tray manufacturers (and at least one tea caddy maker) to create the trays to display these dining fantiasies. 
They are all made of wood, some with leather/leatherette inlays. They also contracted with Fostoria, Vicking, and Stangl for items to promote ToastMaster. 
From a friends static web site:
"Toastmaster Promotions
In the late 1930's Gladding McBean (Franciscan) contracted with the McGraw Electric Company (Toastmaster) to produce a number of promotional products as premiums for purchasing Toastmaster Toasters and Waffle Irons. Toastmaster was America's quality manufacturer of kitchen appliances. As a result, a series of jam jars with toast trays, and waffle bowls with syrup pitchers were manufactured.
There were at least six different jam jar sets and 2 different waffle sets that were produced in large quantities and given away with the purchase of a waffle iron or toaster.
The most elusive pieces out there appear to be the ladles for the waffle sets, and the cutters for the toast.
A typical Toastmaster set would include a wooden hospitality tray along with a Franciscan jam jar set or waffle set. The waffle sets consisted of a batter bowl, a syrup pitcher and a chromium ladle that would measure exactly enough in one scoop to make a waffle.
The jam sets would have one or two jars with lids and a small plate in which toast could be held.
Viking glass and Stangle Potteries also had contracts with Toastmaster in the early years to produce these sets."
Print Advertising for TM was
aimed at the "fun" and special
moments a family could have with their wonderful new Toastmaster serving set.
These small plates have been called everything from "armadillos" to sushi plates, soap dishes, and condiment trays. They were shown as holding appetisers in the original advertising.
NOTE: The set on the right of the toaster in this as has NOT been identified and to my knowledge no one has displayed these small footed bowls. They might be as elusive as the ladles.
The times were full of stay at home women with clubs, parties, and ladies groups. Toast Master was there.
By the end of the war, having Toastmaster kitchen products was considered as important as signing p for fine china, crystal, and flatware due to their specific marketing advertisements.
GMcB's designers were sought after throughout the world, and many items that are beloved housewares came from the GMcB corporation with other names attached.
"During the years that Gladding-McBean / Franciscan created their dinnerware lines, they also contracted with several companies to create promotional items. The most remembered of these is the Toastmaster line, which was created for McGraw Electric Company, but Sunkist, Sperry, Jiffy and others all contracted with Franciscan to produce quality items for their promotions".
More than a dozen items were created for the Toastmaster company to entice home makers to enjoy not just the new electric toast makers, but to display them proudly and plan their entertaining events around them. 
The writers in Toastmasters promotions department created whole scenarios about how Toastmaster was THE most important item in the young brides life, the family's weekend, the busy office worker's morning.The various items came in ONLY the color scheme shown, and were only available in packages with Toastmaster items.
Toastmaster contracted with several tray manufacturers (and at least one tea caddy maker) to create the trays to display these dining fantiasies. 
They are all made of wood, some with leather/leatherette inlays. They also contracted with Fostoria, Vicking, and Stangl for items to promote ToastMaster. 
From a friends static web site:
"Toastmaster Promotions
In the late 1930's Gladding McBean (Franciscan) contracted with the McGraw Electric Company (Toastmaster) to produce a number of promotional products as premiums for purchasing Toastmaster Toasters and Waffle Irons. Toastmaster was America's quality manufacturer of kitchen appliances. As a result, a series of jam jars with toast trays, and waffle bowls with syrup pitchers were manufactured.
There were at least six different jam jar sets and 2 different waffle sets that were produced in large quantities and given away with the purchase of a waffle iron or toaster.
The most elusive pieces out there appear to be the ladles for the waffle sets, and the cutters for the toast.A typical Toastmaster set would include a wooden hospitality tray along with a Franciscan jam jar set or waffle set. The waffle sets consisted of a batter bowl, a syrup pitcher and a chromium ladle that would measure exactly enough in one scoop to make a waffle.
The jam sets would have one or two jars with lids and a small plate in which toast could be held.
Viking glass and Stangle Potteries also had contracts with Toastmaster in the early years to produce these sets."
Print Advertising for TM was
aimed at the "fun" and special
moments a family could have with their wonderful new Toastmaster serving set.
These small plates have been called everything from "armadillos" to sushi plates, soap dishes, and condiment trays. They were shown as holding appetisers in the original advertising.
NOTE: The set on the right of the toaster in this as has NOT been identified and to my knowledge no one has displayed these small footed bowls. They might be as elusive as the ladles.
The times were full of stay at home women with clubs, parties, and ladies groups. Toast Master was there.
By the end of the war, having Toastmaster kitchen products was considered as important as signing p for fine china, crystal, and flatware due to their specific marketing advertisements.
# posted by Renaissancewriter @ 1:15 AM 
Comments:
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Hello! Great article on Toastmaster. Saw your note:
NOTE: The set on the right of the toaster in this as has NOT been identified and to my knowledge no one has displayed these small footed bowls. They might be as elusive as the ladles.
I've been poking around, and I, too was wondering about the lidless, footed jam pots.
Found this URL: http://tabletoptime.blogspot.com/2011/02/toastmaster-tabletop.html where there is a copy of the same ad. Right above the yellow jam pot, are the words "Pottery by Stangl"
NOTE: The set on the right of the toaster in this as has NOT been identified and to my knowledge no one has displayed these small footed bowls. They might be as elusive as the ladles.
I've been poking around, and I, too was wondering about the lidless, footed jam pots.
Found this URL: http://tabletoptime.blogspot.com/2011/02/toastmaster-tabletop.html where there is a copy of the same ad. Right above the yellow jam pot, are the words "Pottery by Stangl"
Hello! Great article on Toastmaster. Saw your note:
NOTE: The set on the right of the toaster in this as has NOT been identified and to my knowledge no one has displayed these small footed bowls. They might be as elusive as the ladles.
I've been poking around, and I, too was wondering about the lidless, footed jam pots.
Found this URL: http://tabletoptime.blogspot.com/2011/02/toastmaster-tabletop.html where there is a copy of the same ad. Right above the yellow jam pot, are the words "Pottery by Stangl"
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NOTE: The set on the right of the toaster in this as has NOT been identified and to my knowledge no one has displayed these small footed bowls. They might be as elusive as the ladles.
I've been poking around, and I, too was wondering about the lidless, footed jam pots.
Found this URL: http://tabletoptime.blogspot.com/2011/02/toastmaster-tabletop.html where there is a copy of the same ad. Right above the yellow jam pot, are the words "Pottery by Stangl"
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