The Mixer: A Journey Through Time

Have you ever wondered about the history of the kitchen tools we rely on every day? Today, let’s take a trip back in time to explore the fascinating story of one such essential appliance: the mixer.

In the mid-19th century, inventors around the world were busy experimenting with ways to simplify and improve the process of mixing ingredients. In 1856, Ralph Collier, a tinner from Baltimore, patented the first mixer with rotating parts. Just a year later, E.P. Griffith introduced the whisk, a revolutionary tool for blending ingredients. The Monroe brothers, J.F. and E.P, also made their mark with their hand-turned rotary egg beater, which was granted a patent in the United States in 1859.

These early designs caught the attention of the Dover Stamping Company, who acquired the Monroe Brothers’ patent. The Dover egg beaters became a beloved American brand, known as the “Dover beater.” They were held in such high regard that even a recipe from the Gazette newspaper of Cedar Rapids, IA in February 1929 featured the famous Dover beater in a delightful dessert recipe called “Hur-Mon Bavarian Cream.”