The Fascinating History of Kitchen Tools: Exploring the Story of Mixers | April 30, 2025

Have you ever wondered about the history behind the kitchen tools that we use every day? Today, let’s take a trip back in time to discover the captivating story of one such essential appliance: the mixer.

The Early Days of Mixing
In the mid-19th century, inventors around the world embarked on a mission to simplify and improve the process of mixing ingredients. It all began in 1856 when 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 invention of the whisk – a truly game-changing tool. Not to be outdone, the Monroe brothers, J.F. and E.P., made their mark with the 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 became immensely popular, earning the title of a beloved American brand known as the “Dover beater.” Their reputation reached new heights when a mouthwatering recipe featuring the famous Dover beater appeared in the Gazette newspaper of Cedar Rapids, IA in February 1929, showcasing a delectable dessert called “Hur-Mon Bavarian Cream.”

The Advent of Electric Mixers
It wasn’t 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 landscape of mixers.

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, 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, an engineer for the Hobart Manufacturing Company named Herbert Johnston had a moment of inspiration. As he watched a baker laboriously mix bread dough with a metal spoon, he realized there had to be a better way. This led him 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.

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