Britain’s ‘oldest toaster’ made in 1949 refuses to burn out after more than 70 years of daily use

Britain’s ‘oldest toaster’ which is more than 70 years old is still used every day by its owner, who appeared on This Morning today.

Jimmy James, 69, from Stanwick in Northamptonshire, inherited the Morphy Richards pop-up toaster in 1993, after his parents were given it as a wedding present in 1949.

It is thought to be the oldest working toaster in the UK, with Jimmy explaining to This Morning presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary that he kept the appliance to prevent it going from landfill. 

The last reported oldest toaster was a 1953 Morphy Richards, gifted to a couple in Devon for their wedding in the same year, according to The Telegraph.

Jimmy James, 69, from Stanwick in Northamptonshire, inherited the Morphy Richards (pictured) pop-up toaster in 1993, after his parents were given it as a wedding present in 1949

It is thought to be the oldest working toaster in the UK, with Jimmy (pictured) explaining to This Morning presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary that he kept the appliance to prevent it going from landfill

Speaking on the ITV programme, Jimmy said: ‘Well I inherited it from my parents in 1993, so I’ve had it since then but the toaster was made in 1949.

‘It will usually run for around six or seven years before anything needs doing,’ he added.

‘The only in-built problem, is that it was made just after the war, and I understand that any metal then was a bit substandard so over a period of about six years, the slides distort in the heat and then they jam… but not to worry we’ve got a very good repairer… and they fix it.’

Jimmy explained that he still uses the toaster everyday, adding: ‘I’m not a great keeper of bits and pieces for nostalgia, I like something that’s going to work, it works well and more than that it’s not going to the landfill.’

Recalling one situation with the toaster, he continued: ‘I remember one particular issue where some toast jammed in it one morning.

‘My younger brother – who was four at the time – decided he would fix this by jamming a knife into it – queue toaster, big fire work display, all the lights went out, everything else went out, but he survived.’

The father-of-three, who works as a charity fundraising consultant, is committed to fixing items where he can, rather than throw them away. 

He recently told The Telegraph: ‘The toaster is now older than I am! It has been used virtually every day of its life. My parents used it, and my wife and I have used it ever since.

‘To me, it’s second nature to make do and mend. My parents were wartime generation and everything was repaired and recycled – nothing was ever thrown away that I can recall.

You’re doing a tiny little bit to preserve the environment and you’re manufacturing jobs in the repair industry as opposed to manufacturing jobs in China.

“I work on the basis that there’s no point in throwing things away if they’re working perfectly well. Some people probably think I hide it away for 364 days of the year, but we use it all the time. When I’m 6ft under my children will use it too.”