Have you ever come across a mysterious object in your attic, unsure of its purpose? These items were once commonplace to our grandparents, but their functionality has become lost to time.
One such object is pictured above. While our grandparents and great-grandparents may have used this tool frequently, it is a rarity in today’s world. In fact, even the internet struggled to identify it!
In case you haven’t already guessed, it’s a hand mixer. It was an essential tool in the kitchen for efficiently blending food, saving valuable time compared to using a spoon. Although it wasn’t powered by electricity, its rotating parts accomplished the task quickly and effortlessly.
The first patent for a mixer with rotating parts was granted in Baltimore, Maryland in 1865. Soon after, the whisk was invented in 1857, and another eggbeater in 1859.
These kitchen gadgets remained highly popular, even in the face of automated appliances we have today. They were the go-to items for time-saving in the kitchen, leading to their widespread use.
It’s fascinating to reflect on the popularity of these once widely-used tools. Perhaps, in 100 years, people will be pondering what we used in our kitchens.
