Hand Mixer
A vintage hand-cranked egg beater
The mixer with rotating parts was patented in 1856 by Baltimore, Maryland tinner Ralph Collier. U.S. Patent 16,267 This was followed by E.P. Griffith's whisk patented in England in 1857. Another hand-turned rotary egg beater was patented by J.F. and E.P. Monroe in 1859 in the US. U.S. Patent 23,694 Their egg beater patent was one of the earliest bought up by the Dover Stamping Company, whose Dover egg beaters became a classic American brand hand mixer.The Monroe design was also manufactured in England. In 1870, Turner Williams of Providence, R.I., invented another Dover egg beater model. U.S. Patent 103,811
Whisking egg whites with a handheld electric mixer
The first mixer with electric motor is thought to be the one invented by American Rufus Eastman in 1885. U.S. Patent 330,829 The Hobart Manufacturing Company was an early manufacturer of large commercial mixers,and they say a new model introduced in 1914 played a key role in the mixer part of their business. The Hobart Kitchen Aid and Sunbeam Mixmaster (first produced 1910) were two very early US brands of electric mixer. Domestic electric mixers were rarely used before the 1920s, when they were adopted more widely for home use.
In 1908 Herbert Johnson, an engineer for the Hobart Manufacturing Company, invented an electric standing mixer. His inspiration came from observing a baker mixing bread dough with a metal spoon; soon he was toying with a mechanical counterpart. By 1915, his 80-quart mixer was standard equipment for most large bakeries. In 1919, Hobart introduced the Kitchen Aid Food Preparer (stand mixer) for the home.
Older models of mixers originally listed each speed by name of operation (ex: Beat-Whip would be high speed if it is a 3-speed mixer); they are now listed by number.
Selecting A Mixer
Mixers require blades that turn easily and consistently during the mixing process. Electric mixers typically have several mixing speeds either in numbered settings or simply low, medium, and high speeds. More settings give more control over the mixing process. Choose a mixer that fits the types of food being prepared and the balance and ease of use offered by the design of the hand mixer. If a wide range of foods are commonly prepared, select a mixer that offers more speed settings and possibly more attachments, such as bread dough hooks, spatulas, whisks, sifters, and bowls. Balance is another consideration when selecting a mixer. Make sure the placement of the motor does not make it difficult to hold or tiring on the hand or arm. Wattage will not make much difference, since a higher wattage will not necessarily affect the performance.
Electric mixers should allow the beaters and mixing bowl to be separated from the electric motor portion of the mixer for cleaning.
