Have you ever wondered about the background of the everyday kitchen items we use? Today, let’s travel back in time to learn more about the fascinating history of one such essential appliance: the mixer.

The First Years of Combining

Our story begins in the mid-1800s, when inventors from all over the world started experimenting with ways to make the process of mixing ingredients easier and faster. In 1856, Ralph Collier, a tinner from Baltimore, was granted the patent for the first mixer having spinning pieces. Less than a year later, E.P. Griffith introduced the whisk, a revolutionary tool for blending ingredients. J.F. and E.P. Monroe also left their mark with their hand-turned rotary egg beater, which was patented in the United States in 1859.

Upon noticing these early prototypes, the Dover Stamping Company acquired the patent from the Monroe Brothers. The Dover egg beaters gained notoriety in the US and were dubbed the “Dover beater.” A great dessert recipe called “Hur-Mon Bavarian Cream” that was published in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Gazette in February 1929 highlighted the legendary Dover beater, proving just how highly regarded these beaters were.