So who invented the blender?….
We wouldn’t even be talking about food blender history if it wasn’t for the existence of a small electric motor invented in 1910….
The fractional horsepower motor is recognised as a huge revolutionary invention for domestic appliance industry.
This new motor ran on AC or DC electrical current. In its day this was an incredible invention that made it possible to plug in and power a vast array of future household machines including the blender.
The inventers Chester Beach and Fred Osius, backed by marketing guru Louis Hamilton quickly produced the first product. The electric hand held massager launched in 1910 was the forerunner, and the Hamilton Beach Manufacturing Company was founded to develop household applications for the new mini-motor.
History Of The Blender
Today’s household blenders are small powered appliances comprised of a tall canister with interior blades that chop, grind and liquefy food and drinks.
But let’s get to the original blender history question….who invented the blender?
Actually Stephen Poplawski receives full credited for inventing the first liquefier blender back in 1922. He was the first to place blades that spin at the base of a container.
Stephen Poplawski’s new creation was originally made to mix soda fountain drinks, under contract to the Arnold Electric Company of Racine, Wisconsin. Racine was the home of the Horlick Corporation, which manufactured the malted milk drink served at soda fountains.
Poplawski applied for a patent on his blender in 1922
“…for the first mixer of my design having an agitating element mounted in a base and adapted to be drivingly connected with the agitator in the cup when the cup was placed in a recess in the top of the base.”
This patent allowed Arnold Electric to corner the blender manufacturing market before its purchase by Hamilton Beach Manufacturing Company in 1926.
In 1932 The Stevens Electric Company received a patent for a machine that would liquefy fruits or vegetables. And in 1935 Poplawski’s idea was improved by Fred Osius who invented the hugely popular Waring Blender….
Waring Blender History
Fred Osius invented and patented this historic blending machine in 1933. But Fred was in need of extra funds to make improvements on his prototype. He knew that a wealthy man named Fred Waring had a liking for new inventions and decided to approach him for backing.
Fred Waring was indeed the financial backing and marketing guru that made the Waring Blender a household name. It’s true that he was already a little famous for fronting the big band, Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians, but it was the Waring Blender that catapulted him into history.
Crashing Fred Waring’s dressing room following a live radio broadcast at the Vanderbilt Theatre, Fred Osius made his proposal and received his backing.
Ex engineering student Fred Waring, was always interested in new gadgets and inventions. But he backed this project, in part, so that he could liquefy the vegetables that his doctor had prescribed for an ulcer.
After six month of work and more than $20,000 lighter, the blender still suffered technical problems. Waring decided to dump Fred Osius and get the Waring blender redesigned.
It wasn’t until 1937 that the Waring Miracle Mixer blender was launched to the public at the cost of $29.75.
The name was shortened to just ‘Waring Blender’ in 1938. And Fred Waring went on a single handed marketing campaign across the nation. He visited clubs, hotels, cafes and restaurants with his by-line that “this mixer is going to revolutionize American drinks” And it did…… By the mid 1950’s the Waring Blender sat in more than a million homes.
During the war Fred did his bit by attending bond rallies and entertained the troops in training camps with his singing and dance routines. He sang a number of hits including My America which was popular with the troops at the time.
After the war Fred Waring appeared on TV many times and had lots of his own shows including The Fred Waring Show on CBS. The show ran for 6 years and in that time received a number of awards. His singing talents didn’t go unnoticed either, and he had many hits including Smoke Gets in your Eyes, White Christmas and Dancing in the Dark. By the time he died, Fred had produced over 100 albums with his group The Pennsylvanians, with many of them being hits.
Fred had many awards and medals bestowed upon him, but being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by Ronald Reagan in 1983 was the highest award he had received and was a truly memorable day, one that he would never forget.
Oster Blender History
The Oster Brand started in 1924 when John Oster began selling his hand held clipper to cut and style hair. 14 years on the motor powered clipper was invented, creating a huge market for The John Oster Manufacturing Company to thrive. John Oster made a decision to diversify from barber equipment in 1946. He decided to enter the household appliances industry and acquired The Stevens Electric Company…Yes, the same company that had actually invented the liquefier blender 24 years earlier.
It wasn’t long before the Osterizer Blender was introduced and the rest is ‘blender history’. The success of this one model was huge and the Oster Manufacturing Company had made its mark on the small appliances industry.
KitchenAid Blender History
The KitchenAid brand was born in Troy, Ohio, in 1919 with its legendary stand mixer. Advertising was developed emphasizing how the KitchenAid Stand Mixer stirs, cuts, beats,
creams, chops, slices, and strains using electricity. In the 90 years since, KitchenAid has built a massive collection of cooking and cleaning products for the home, including its extremely popular 5 speed blender.
Hamilton Beach Blender History
As one of the country’s leading distributors of small kitchen appliances, Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc. still sells more than 35 million household appliances every year.
The company’s top brands, Proctor Silex, Eclectrics, TrueAir and of course the Hamilton Beach all deliver the branded “Good Thinking” approach in the home across the nation and even further afield.
Breville Blender History
Bill O’Brien and Harry Norville combined their last names and formed the Breville brand in 1932. They started off making radios and then mine detectors during war. After the War they quickly moved in to the small appliances industry.
In 1974, they made probably their most famous product the Breville Sandwich Toaster. And in 1977, they invented the Breville Kitchen Wizz, Australia’s first food processor.
After a 75-year journey, Breville has grown to become a massive global brand. The company’s roots will always be in Australia, but Breville products are now sold in more than 30 countries worldwide, including the United States.