Have you ever stopped to think about how the kitchen utensils we use every day came to be? Today, we’re taking a trip back in time to explore the fascinating history of an essential piece of equipment: the blender.
The Early Days
Our story begins in the mid-19th century when inventors were searching for simpler and more efficient ways to mix ingredients. In 1856, Baltimore tinsmith Ralph Collier received a patent for the first rotary mixer. Just a year later, E.P. Griffith introduced the whisk, an innovative tool for mixing ingredients. In 1859, the Monroe Brothers patented a manual egg beater in the United States, leaving a lasting impression on kitchen technology.
The Dover Stamping Company acquired the Monroe Brothers’ patent, leading to the creation of the beloved Dover egg beaters, known as the “Dover beater.” These beaters were so popular that a 1929 recipe from the Cedar Rapids Gazette featured the Dover beater in a dessert recipe called “Hur-Mon Bavarian Cream.”
Enter the Electric Era
The first electric mixer debuted in 1885, thanks to American inventor Rufus Eastman. However, the Hobart Manufacturing Company revolutionized the industry with their large commercial mixers. In 1914, they introduced a groundbreaking new model that changed the landscape of mixers.
In the early 20th century, two notable American brands, the Hobart KitchenAid and the Sunbeam Mixmaster, became popular among consumers. Despite their popularity, domestic electric mixers were rare in most households until the 1920s, when they began to be widely adopted for home use.
The Stand Mixer: A Game Changer
In 1908, Herbert Johnston, an engineer for the Hobart Manufacturing Company, had a eureka moment while observing a baker mix bread dough with a metal spoon. He realized there had to be a better way and set out to create a mechanical counterpart to simplify the process.
By 1915, Johnston’s 20-gallon mixer had become standard equipment in most large bakeries. Just four years later, in 1919, the Hobart Manufacturing Company introduced the KitchenAid Food Preparer, which became known as the stand mixer. This revolutionary invention quickly became a staple in kitchens across the country.
Continue reading on next page…