My toaster requires manual intervention to raise the contents of the slot although there is a satisfying clunk when the timer switches off the elements.
That sounds as if it's a Dualit toaster?
It is. It’s done 20 years service with one replacement timer switch. It’s repairable nature is another reason to get one.
We used a 3 slot model for about 16 or 17 years with just one change of elements and it still works - it's stored away as we lashed out on a Kitchen Aid toaster ... it looks great, does great toast/bagels etc - and REDmatches the KA mixer and kettle!
We got a 4-slot Dualit toaster as a wedding present. As mentioned elsewhere, this doesn't help me work out how old it is, but it's getting on for 20 years and still going strong. The lack of electronic mechanisms to go wrong, and the lack of beeping, are among its primary recommendations.
The new-ish washing machine plays a tune when it finishes, but that's a non-persistent one-off. The microwave, however, beeps every 30 seconds when it finishes - which is really annoying if you're in the middle of some other kitchen activity and don't have a clean/free hand to stop it. (And FFS, I don't always need to take whatever it is out of the microwave the moment it finishes the program - eg if it's defrosting something, I might be happy for it to sit there for another 10 minutes or more.)
At least none of the fuckers are connected to the internet.