Have
you ever stopped to think about how the trusty kitchen tool, the mixer, came to
be? Let’s take a trip back in time and uncover the intriguing history behind
this essential appliance.
The
Early Days of Mixing
In
the mid-19th century, innovation struck the kitchen when Baltimore tinner Ralph
Collier patented the first mixer with rotating parts in 1856. Shortly after,
E.P. Griffith’s whisk was patented in England in 1857. The Monroe brothers,
J.F. and E.P., also left their mark with their hand-turned rotary egg beater,
which was patented in the US in 1859. These early designs caught the attention
of the Dover Stamping Company, which acquired the Monroe brothers’ patent. The
Dover egg beaters became a beloved American brand, often referred to as the
“Dover beater.” In fact, back in February 1929, a recipe from the Gazette
newspaper of Cedar Rapids, IA, even featured the famous Dover beater in a
delightful dessert recipe called “Hur-Mon Bavarian Cream.”
The
Rise of Electric Mixers
It
wasn’t until 1885 that the first mixer with an electric motor emerged, thanks
to the ingenuity of American inventor Rufus Eastman. However, it was the Hobart
Manufacturing Company that truly revolutionized the industry with their large commercial
mixers. In 1914, the company introduced a groundbreaking new model that would
forever change the mixer landscape. Throughout the early 20th century, two
notable American brands, the Hobart KitchenAid and the Sunbeam Mixmaster,
became popular choices among consumers. Although these mixers gained
popularity, they remained a rarity in most households until the 1920s, when
they began to be widely adopted for home use.
The
Birth of the Stand Mixer
In
1908, while watching a baker mix bread dough with a metal spoon, Herbert
Johnston, an engineer for the Hobart Manufacturing Company, had a brilliant
idea. He realized there had to be a better way and embarked on creating a
mechanical counterpart to simplify the process. By 1915, Johnston’s 20-gallon
mixer had become standard equipment in most large bakeries. Then, in 1919, the
Hobart Manufacturing Company introduced the Kitchen Aid Food Preparer, also
known as the stand mixer, for home use. This revolutionary invention soon
became a staple in kitchens across the country.
The
mixer has come a long way since its humble beginnings in the 19th century. From
hand-turned rotary beaters to the introduction of electric motors and the birth
of the stand mixer, this essential kitchen tool has undergone numerous innovations
to make our lives easier in the kitchen.
So,
the next time you whip up a batch of cookies or blend together a mouthwatering
cake batter, take a moment to appreciate the rich history behind your trusty
mixer. After all, it’s a testament to human ingenuity and the desire to
simplify everyday tasks.
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