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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?

#371

Post by iancmceachern »

terom wrote: post #332
iancmceachern wrote: post #231

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, they do. You can see the "UL" mark on the product label

https://photos.app.goo.gl/S6sFaEUxY89Tgxn56 here's an example of the safety/certification markings from a 24V power supply sold in the EU. Take a close look at the TÜV/GS logo and font. I seriously doubt the UL file number E131992 exists. The Safety Mark 021068-00 code is for a Samsung AC Adapter [1], which this is not. You can see some of the same details in the AliExpress listings. [1] https://www.go.gov.sg/safety-…

This is called counterfeiting.

It's the same thing for Rolex's at the Eiffel Tower. Does that make the eiffel tower, or real eatches any different?

Breaking news. This just in! China is manufacturing counterfeiting products

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

#372

Post by riddley »

masto wrote: post #324
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…

They don't all have nothing that isn't required. My toaster runs Android, has a touch screen, WiFi and an app, and a camera for the AI to identify what you put in it and so you can watch a live stream of your toast or play back recordings from the cloud. It was a pre-order in 2015 that didn't ship for two years. Unfortunately they sold out to Weber a couple of years ago and the product has been discontinued, much to…

>They don't all have nothing that isn't required.

I'm not smart enough to parse that sentence, I think.

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

#373

Post by stef25 »

scq wrote: post #277
stef25 wrote: post #276

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know there's another CE mark which stands for "China Export" right ? It just means it was manufactured in China and pretty much indistinguishable from Europe's CE mark.

That's a myth. There is no such marking as "China Export". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CE_marking#%22China_Export%22

wow ok, I stand corrected!

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

#374

Post by brudgers »

iancmceachern wrote: post #187
brudgers wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure I'm missing some things Sufficient capital is the big thing that turns everything else into a technical detail. I mean UL certification is only a problem when the venture is under-capitalized.

Very true. Most of these things can be contracted for, there are people like me that do these things. But it's not cheap. It's become somewhat of a litmus test for me. If potential clients are are surprised by the time, cost and effort if these things, it's usually a sign they're not a well thought out venture, and therefore not a great client.

Potential clients who express a desire not to pay enough to keep you in business are best left to your competitors.

Potential clients who are under-capitalized and say, I will need to find more money are worth working with.

The biggest mistake in business is trying to save clients/customers money on the goods/services you sell. The last 10% is the part of the price where you make money.

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

#375

Post by fullspectrumdev »

Symbiote wrote: post #234
fullspectrumdev wrote: post #210

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve only ever seen Speed Queens in laundromats in Eastern Europe. I will grant them this: the branding is not lying, they are fast as fuck.

I've only used them very occasionally in laundromats when travelling. They are fast, but the clothes aren't cleaned properly.

I had no trouble with them cleaning some heavily dirty clothing (from doing construction works), I guess mileage may vary somewhat.

I did notice that the dryers (which I think are the same brand) have a hard time properly drying some articles such as thick wool socks within their programmed time.

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

#376

Post by meeech »

masto wrote: post #324
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…

They don't all have nothing that isn't required. My toaster runs Android, has a touch screen, WiFi and an app, and a camera for the AI to identify what you put in it and so you can watch a live stream of your toast or play back recordings from the cloud. It was a pre-order in 2015 that didn't ship for two years. Unfortunately they sold out to Weber a couple of years ago and the product has been discontinued, much to…

The comment op clearly states "modern cheap toaster". The toaster you describe is not that.

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

#377

Post by throwawayffffas »

cbracketdash wrote: post #133
neonlights84 wrote: post #82

Given all of the regulatory obstacles and logistical headaches surrounding manufactured products these days, I personally feel that mechanical/electrical entrepreneurship is a path to ruin. Since you're in software already, would it not make more sense to create a strictly-digital product? Keep your day job, work at your own pace on software products (ideally with a partner), and see whether the market actually wants…

Enter Elon Musk with Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, & Neuralink... he seems to have it figured out

Well he only went into these after making his fortune on paypal.

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

#378

Post by iancmceachern »

coffeebeqn wrote: post #356
iancmceachern wrote: post #83

I do this for a living. Setting up a small operation and doing the physical actions of designing, manufacturing and selling the toasters is the easy, fun and obvious part. I figure what your looking for, advice wise, is what's not obvious. A few things you'll need: -Product liability insurance, this isn't isn't easy or inexpensive to get. You need to have a lot of the below in place to get it. - UL certification (or…

> Setting up a small operation and doing the physical actions of designing, manufacturing and selling the toasters is the easy, fun and obvious part. Sure if you’ve spent a decade plus designing and crafting electronics and metal cases. If not - you’ll probably get stuck there

There are lots of people you can hire to do those things. Like me.

Also, there are services like protocase for the enclosures. They specialize in making semi custom and custom enclosures, they even have design templates that you can download, modify, and then order.

It's far easier than it was 20 years ago.

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

#379

Post by randmeerkat »

Dig1t wrote: post #177
randmeerkat wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Are you saying there is a proven market for luxury toasters? There’s a proven luxury market for literally anything. Just look at the $399 Wolf Toaster, which coincidentally is made in the U.S. This is the same brand that makes the famous Wolf Ranges. https://wolfgourmet.com/store/countertop-appliances/four-sli...

Wow, I did a bunch of searching and this company did not come up. I don’t know how I missed this. It’s pretty ugly considering the price. I just learned about Dualit because of this thread, they make something very similar to the vision I have in my head, except it’s made in the UK instead of the US. I was picturing basically recreating something like the Sunbeam T-20.

> Wow, I did a bunch of searching and this company did not come up. I don’t know how I missed this.

It happens.

> It’s pretty ugly considering the price.

Aesthetic is very subjective, people probably purchase the Wolf toaster because the red knobs match their Wolf stove. That said it is very modern and if you also made an art deco stove to match the toaster you’re imagining you may have found a new market.

> I just learned about Dualit because of this thread, they make something very similar to the vision I have in my head, except it’s made in the UK instead of the US.

Dualit is a great brand with a great product.

> I was picturing basically recreating something like the Sunbeam T-20.

To be fair the Dualit reminds me of a more modern Sunbeam.

Really if you have the time and the resources to manufacture a toaster, do it, expect a failure, and if it’s successful great, at the very least you’ll have learned something new.

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

#380

Post by randmeerkat »

psc wrote: post #353
Dig1t wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wow, I did a bunch of searching and this company did not come up. I don’t know how I missed this. It’s pretty ugly considering the price. I just learned about Dualit because of this thread, they make something very similar to the vision I have in my head, except it’s made in the UK instead of the US. I was picturing basically recreating something like the Sunbeam T-20.

> recreating something like the Sunbeam T-20 I got a vintage Sunbeam toaster recently, and in the process I found this guy who restores vintage Sunbeam toasters for almost $300! https://www.timstoasters.com/ That's not including the toaster itself, which generally runs somewhere around $100 on eBay. It makes me wonder if it's a better business to restore old toasters (and even other kitchen gear) rather than to make…

> I got a vintage Sunbeam toaster recently, and in the process I found this guy who restores vintage Sunbeam toasters for almost $300!

This is great!

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