Couple of years ago, my wife went on search for the"perfect" toaster. After months of looking at everything available locally and reading nearly every review on the internet, we ended up at our local Restaurant supply house and bought a commercial toaster. Looks like the kind you see at the "free breakfast bar" at motels. She figured that if it could handle tourists, it should be able to hold up to the two of us.
It's built like a tank and weighs nearly as much, but she is happy with it. I expect it to be an heirloom for our kids to fight over.
Finally remembered to check the brand. The toaster is made by HATCO. It's a 4 slice commercial model and works like a champ. Even the crumb trays are stainless steel.
I grew up with one of those in the house, was bought in the early '50's. I ended up with it. Sometime in the '80's, it started acting up. Took it apart and found the electric contact was burned. Since I wanted to fix it, I took it to a friend's house who could gold plate the contact. We were surprised to find the contacts were about as thick as a dime, a 1/3 inch in diameter, and made of nearly pure silver! Fixing it was a snap, no plating needed. Built to last forever.
My wife didn't share my love of the old toaster, we now have a B&D toaster-toaster/convection oven. It works OK as an oven but takes forever to make toast.
Funny story- After growing up with the Sunbeam toaster in my family, my older brother was at his girlfriend's house (later to become his wife) and went to make toast. He dropped the bread in the slots, and waited...and waited. His girlfriend looked at him- "Gee, don't you know how to run a toaster?". And pushed the lever down on the side.
-Tom