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Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

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Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#291

Post by tim333 »

arghwhat wrote: post #267
jws wrote: post #60

I married into toaster moguls. When they sold out in '97, domestic toasters had been infeasible for years already. And this was for a company where all the knowledge, equipment, and facilities had beed paid for many decades before. (They invented the electric pop-up toaster for certain definitions of electric pop-up toaster.) Toasters are refined brilliance, if done right. The concept of "done" is computed using an a…

> Toasters are refined brilliance, if done right. The concept of "done" is computed using an analog computer programmed by human experts. That hasn't been the case in ages. Modern cheap toasters use a dedicated toaster chip (... yes), which is a plain timer but with built-in retained heat compensation for when the toaster is used back-to-back. Fewer components equals cheaper toaster. A very fancy toaster would have s…

Gosh I didn't know there were toaster chips but it seems so. One here 8 pin package with pin 3 being the bagel pin. https://www.diodes.com/assets/Datasheets/PT8A2514A.pdf

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#292

Post by addandsubtract »

zemvpferreira wrote: post #275
jws wrote: post #60

I married into toaster moguls. When they sold out in '97, domestic toasters had been infeasible for years already. And this was for a company where all the knowledge, equipment, and facilities had beed paid for many decades before. (They invented the electric pop-up toaster for certain definitions of electric pop-up toaster.) Toasters are refined brilliance, if done right. The concept of "done" is computed using an a…

>I married into toaster moguls Truly, hacker news is the most wonderfully diverse ecosystem.

Ironic to see, that after all the litigations were settled, OP was toast.

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#293

Post by addandsubtract »

Chaosvex wrote: post #257
throwaway2037 wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> midsize pickup trucks, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers... "simple machines"?

To be fair, washing machines are extremely simple. The trucks, a little less so.

A washing machine spins at up to 14-16 hundred RPM, while contain weight that shifts and changes based on the water added. I wouldn't necessarily define that as "simple", either.

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#295

Post by aqwsde »

Let me put this into perspective as an outsider:

``` I have been looking at starting a business and am a Dentist with lots of experience.

I also love learning about masonry and construction, but have never actually tried building anything.

Lately, I have been interested in buying things that are made locally. One construction item that I would like to invest in is a brick house; I did a lot of searching online, and this seems to be something that has a decent amount of demand.

There does seem to be a market opportunity for high-quality houses made locally.

My question is: as a dentist with zero experience building physical things, should I try building brick houses? I have plenty of space to set up a small operation and a little capital to get started. What are the pitfalls? Has anyone with a dental background moved into constructing physical items like this? ```

Don't expect your former job knowledge to be of much use for this endeavor.

This does not mean "Don't do it!" but rather "Be aware of the scope!".

Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#296

Post by imp0cat »

hellbanTHIS wrote: post #23

Add a voice assistant that only talks about toast. It can answer any question as long as it's about toast.

I know you're kidding (are you?) but this can be easily accoplished by using the ChatGPT app with custom prompt and a bluetooth handsfree.

You can also use the same trick to create talking plush toys, just hide the HF inside. ;)

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#297

Post by FirmwareBurner »

tim333 wrote: post #291
arghwhat wrote: post #267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Toasters are refined brilliance, if done right. The concept of "done" is computed using an analog computer programmed by human experts. That hasn't been the case in ages. Modern cheap toasters use a dedicated toaster chip (... yes), which is a plain timer but with built-in retained heat compensation for when the toaster is used back-to-back. Fewer components equals cheaper toaster. A very fancy toaster would have s…

Gosh I didn't know there were toaster chips but it seems so. One here 8 pin package with pin 3 being the bagel pin. https://www.diodes.com/assets/Datasheets/PT8A2514A.pdf

Intel makes pretty good toaster chips too.

https://www.overclock.net/threads/worried-about-13900k-tempe...

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#299

Post by CPLX »

43920 wrote: post #151
wnc3141 wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a theory that anything that takes permanent, visible-realestate in the household has someone of a niche for people wanting tastefully designed things. In essence, things that do not appear "disposable" as so many kitchen appliances do. People pay extra for designer hot water pots. However purely aesthetic upgrade products will need serious work to maintain differentiation. Dyson is a more glaring example (fans…

There are already companies that make nice-looking, higher-end kitchen appliances though - Breville comes to mind, there are probably others. Speaking from personal experience, I have a toaster oven from them that’s lasted close to ten years with zero problems; I’d have a hard time being convinced to pay more for a “made in USA” one unless there was something truly exceptional about it.

I bought a Breville toaster and microwave when I was moving into and furnishing a new NYC apartment from scratch, and I decided to get something a little nicer, more aesthetic, etc. They were on a major after-Xmas sale so I figured why not.

What I was not prepared for was how much better quality they were by a mile. It's not even close, they're so much more sturdy and well made and they work so much better than the ones I'd had before.

Like the microwave is incredibly consistent in heating, it has a rotary knob for power level so you basically never get the on fire on one side and freezing on the other side thing if you don't want to, stuff like that. The toaster is a joy, it has an elegant little display, the toast is always flawless.

So there's definitely a market for better stuff too. Unfortunately the OP without any prior experience might not be able to hit that bar either.

Re: Ask HN: Should I try to manufacture toasters?

#300

Post by CPLX »

photonbeam wrote: post #128
dylan604 wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I think you are greatly over-estimating how many people would be willing to pay the cost of a North American made toaster. Who wants a $75+ toaster just because it was "Made In USA"? Is it going to make toast better than a $15 toaster "Hecho In Mexico" or whatever other country? Even making the infrastructure to make a toaster would not do much in the way of increasing the manufacturing abilities in the US. What co…

Id pay hundreds for a toaster built like a tank Not because I need that, I just enjoy overly heavy things

This thing is amazing: https://www.breville.com/us/en/products/toasters/bta735.html...
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