Have you ever stopped to consider the history behind the kitchen tools we use every day? Today, let’s take a trip back in time to explore the captivating story of one such essential appliance: the mixer.
The Early Days of Mixing
In the mid-19th century, inventors worldwide embarked on a mission to simplify and enhance the process of mixing ingredients. In 1856, Ralph Collier, a talented tinner from Baltimore, introduced the first mixer with rotating parts. Shortly after, in 1857, E.P. Griffith revolutionized blending with the whisk, a truly game-changing tool. Not to be outdone, the Monroe brothers, J.F. and E.P., left their mark with their hand-turned rotary egg beater, receiving a patent in the United States in 1859.
These groundbreaking designs caught the attention of the Dover Stamping Company, who acquired the Monroe Brothers’ patent. The Dover egg beaters soon gained immense popularity, becoming a beloved American brand known as the “Dover beater.” The high regard in which they were held was evident when a delightful recipe from the Gazette newspaper of Cedar Rapids, IA in February 1929 featured the famous Dover beater in a mouthwatering dessert called “Hur-Mon Bavarian Cream.”
Enter the Electric Era
It was not until 1885 that the first electric mixer made its grand entrance, thanks to the brilliant mind of American inventor Rufus Eastman. However, it was the Hobart Manufacturing Company that truly revolutionized the industry with their large commercial mixers. In 1914, they unveiled a groundbreaking model that forever changed the mixer landscape.
During the early 20th century, two notable American brands, the Hobart KitchenAid and the Sunbeam Mixmaster, solidified their positions as popular choices among consumers. Nevertheless, domestic electric mixers remained a rarity in most households until the 1920s when they began to be widely adopted for home use.
The Stand Mixer: A Game Changer
In 1908, a moment of inspiration struck Herbert Johnston, an engineer for the Hobart Manufacturing Company, as he watched a baker laboriously 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 became standard equipment in most large bakeries. Just four years later, in 1919, the Hobart Manufacturing Company introduced the Kitchen Aid Food Preparer, which would later be known as the stand mixer. This groundbreaking invention quickly found its rightful place in kitchens across the country.
From the hand-turned rotary beaters of the 19th century to the introduction of electric motors and the birth of the stand mixer, this essential kitchen tool has undergone various 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. It serves as a testament to human ingenuity and the desire to simplify everyday tasks.
