Wikipedia:List of hoaxes on Wikipedia/Alan MacMasters
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Alan Alexander MacMasters | |
|---|---|
| File:Alan MacMasters circa end of 19th century.jpg Recovered portrait of MacMasters around the time of his toaster creation (1890s) | |
| Citizenship | British |
| Education | University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation(s) | Scientist, inventor, industrialist |
Alan MacMasters (born 1865[1][circular reporting?]) was a Scottish scientist, credited with creating the first electric bread toaster. His invention went on to be developed by Crompton, Stephen J. Cook & Company as the Eclipse.[2][3][4][circular reporting?] Although not ultimately a commercial success, MacMasters's invention would pave the way for Charles Strite to invent the automatic pop-up toaster in 1919, and MacMasters's research into the application of electric heat elements was instrumental in the development of home appliances in the 20th century.[5]
Invention of the toaster
In the Autumn of 1883, Alan MacMasters began his study at the University of Edinburgh within the Department of Natural Philosophy[citation needed] (today the faculties of Physics, Science and Engineering).[6] He spent much of his time studying under Professor Fleeming Jenkin, through whom he connected with the ongoing Glasgow Underground project. MacMasters would go on to research and develop an innovative new lighting system to brighten the dimly lit carriages. While MacMasters's high luminosity underground lighting would form the backbone of his initial success as an industrialist, it also inadvertently led to his better known discovery, the toaster.[citation needed]
Although intended for Glasgow, MacMasters's lighting system would first be implemented on the City & South London Railway. It was while working in London that MacMasters met electrical engineer Evelyn Crompton. One night after working together to deliver an electrical and lighting system for what would later become the London Underground Northern line, Crompton invited MacMasters for a drink. Legend has it that after a half-bottle of whisky, MacMasters admitted to Crompton his sly attempt at cost cutting by sourcing a cheaper metal for his filaments. The attempt was a complete failure, as the supplier had put a large amount of nickel in the wire. The resultant lamp ran so hot that his nearby bread began to brown. MacMasters joked that he ought to put one in his kitchen. An amused Crompton invited MacMasters to join him at his laboratory at No. 48 Kensington Court. It was there that MacMasters spent the next several months perfecting the world's first electric bread toaster before selling the design on to Crompton.[7][failed verification][8][not specific enough to verify]
MacMasters's toaster was brought to mass market as the 'Eclipse'. It had four electric elements built on a ceramic base. Electricity could be sourced via an adapter that plugged in between a lamp and socket.[2] Unfortunately, by 1894, the MacMasters Eclipse toaster had become the cause of one of Britain's first deadly appliance fire. A woman in Guildford was overcome in her kitchen after the early elements melted and ignited the table. MacMasters and Crompton denied wrongdoing and instead blamed the deceased for 'not holding appropriate respect for the power of the electric toaster' in reference to the fact it had been left unattended.[9][failed verification][1][circular reporting?]
The invention of the electric kettle is also attributed to MacMasters, who sold the design to Crompton alongside the toaster in the early 1890s. While it used largely the same technology, the element was held in a separate chamber.[3][failed verification]
References
- ^ a b Simpson, Peter (7 January 2014). "Scottish fact of the week: The electric toaster". The Scotsman. JPIMedia Ltd. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
- ^ a b Gross, Linda (13 June 2017). "The History of Making Toast". Hagley Museum and Library.
- ^ a b Myall, Steve. "Made in the UK: The life-changing everyday innovations which put British genius on the map". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror plc. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
- ^ Momo, Larry. "Politicians and toasters are a lot alike". Washington Times. Sun Myung Moon et al. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ^ Dowling, Stephen. "Shrinking the toaster for today's tiny kitchens". BBC Future. BBC Worldwide. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ "Physics". ourhistory.is.ed.ac.uk. University of Edinburgh.
- ^ Winn, Christopher (2018). Walk Through History: Discover Victorian London. Random House. p. 77. ISBN 9781473551930.
- ^ Winn, Christopher (2018). Victorian London walking tour. London.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "GUILDFORD". Surrey Gazette. 28 February 1894.
Category:1865 births
Category:1927 deaths
Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
Category:Scottish inventors
Category:Scottish scientists