The Pop-up Toaster Originated in Stillwater, MN

This convenience had its beginning in a plant in Stillwater, Minnesota, where, during World War I, a master mechanic, Charles Strite decided to do something about the burnt toast served in the company cafeteria. To circumvent the need for continual human attention, Strite incorporated springs and a variable timer, and he filed the patent for his pop-up toaster on May 29, 1919.

From Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things by Charles Panati

This convenience had its beginning in a plant in Stillwater,…