It is a little known fact that Charles Strite, who filed a patent for his pop-up toaster, (which incorporated springs and a variable timer), on 29th May 1919 was a devout worshiper of Ceres, the Roman Goddess of grain and agriculture. The variable timer is easily explained on account of the diverse opinions as to what properly constitutes toast. But why the pop-up action? surely a discreet bell, could have sounded to have alerted the 'artosphile'. The excuse Strite provided was his devotion to Ceres, and her festival, the Cerealia, which was celebrated on April 19. Simply the springing-up action of the toaster is in praise of the goddess, symbolising the growth of all things. However, recent research suggests that Strite's passion for hunting and the inordinate amount of gunshot damage in Strites kitchen may suggest that his devotion was actually to Diana.
References and notes: http://www.toaster.org/ Artosphile to my limited knowledge means bread-lover.
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Hmm, I'll have a try.
Date: 2003-09-19 01:38 pm (UTC)It is a little known fact that Charles Strite, who filed a patent for his pop-up toaster, (which incorporated springs and a variable timer), on 29th May 1919 was a devout worshiper of Ceres, the Roman Goddess of grain and agriculture. The variable timer is easily explained on account of the diverse opinions as to what properly constitutes toast. But why the pop-up action? surely a discreet bell, could have sounded to have alerted the 'artosphile'. The excuse Strite provided was his devotion to Ceres, and her festival, the Cerealia, which was celebrated on April 19. Simply the springing-up action of the toaster is in praise of the goddess, symbolising the growth of all things. However, recent research suggests that Strite's passion for hunting and the inordinate amount of gunshot damage in Strites kitchen may suggest that his devotion was actually to Diana.
References and notes:
http://www.toaster.org/
Artosphile to my limited knowledge means bread-lover.
Sorry, the best I can do at the moment.