On Wed, 19 Aug 2020 14:52:39 -0700 (PDT), Dave N
wrote:

snip

Anyway, looking as closely as I can at the fixing, it still looks like some kind of star washer arrangement rather than a security screw, so it seems to me that the only likely ways to get the cover off are to drill the fixing out or break the washer off somehow - both options pretty unappealing.

Or just undo the screws. ;-)

To fasten anything with any form of snap washer would first have to
insert some form of pin into the plastic and that's not as easy as
just having a hole and putting a(n anti-tamper) screw in there.

I thing I'll just have to splash out £30 for a new toaster. Many thanks to everyone for the suggestions and comments - I managed to find our old toaster in the loft today (a Braun model, c. 1995) so at least have something usable

;-)

(it doesn't do thick bread or crumpets, though, which is why we got a new one),

That's party how we winded up with what was probably the cheapest 4
slice toaster in the Argos catalogue, a white plastic 'Coolworks'
thing and it's probably 10 years now and used very regularly. Why on
earth would you want or anyone make a toaster that *doesn't* handle
something as basic as thick bread or crumpets!? ;-(

We also like the layout with all the controls at the end.

and note that the bottom panel is metal and fixed using screws. Clearly there are some ways in which technology has gone backwards...

But safety has gone forwards. It means 'most people' won't be able to
get it to bits, not without getting, making / adapting some tools
anyway. ;-)

Cheers, T i m