Proctor Silex 24605 4-Slice Toaster

We purchased this toaster based mostly on its size and appearance. I had brought home a couple of others which just did not fit my space. One was too tall and came too close to the cabinet above it, and one took up too much space on the counter. The Proctor Silex 4-Slice Toaster is compact and attractive and on top of that, it toasts the bread very well. It doesn't have a lot of frills, but does toast bagels as well as bread, and that's what we were interested in. It is much more reasonably priced than almost any other brand. If it has any drawbacks, it's that it seems a little light in weight. Although we've had it for only a month, we are quite satisfied with it.

Based on a Consumer's Report review, last year I purchased an inexpensive Proctor-Silex 4 slice toaster, which was as reviewed--wonderful. I needed another such toaster and purchased the one for which these comments are directed--it appears to have replaced the earlier base model. But this one is hardly as good as its predecessor.

The sliding crumb trays have vanished as has the light that one can push to raise the toast before it automatically pops up. And it is not that easy to push the lever down again if the toast needs additional browning. It appears that the toaster needs to cool down a bit before the lever will stay down. And...it takes longer to brown the bread.

It is terrible.

Toasts OK, but doesn't have a cancel button if you set it too long, you have to pull the plug out of the wall receptacle!!!!!