Umair Gaines
The first KitchenAid electric mixer was introduced in 1919. The mixer was created by the Hobart Manufacturing Company, which had been producing large stand mixers for professional bakeries since 1908. The first KitchenAid mixer, the H-5, was designed for home use and weighed 65 pounds. In 1937, KitchenAid released the Model K, which was the first iteration of the mixer that consumers recognized as a KitchenAid. The Model K featured a streamlined profile designed by Egmont Arens and was the first to use a bowl that secured to the base with an interlocking motion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Invention | 1919 |
| Inventor | Hobart Manufacturing Company |
| First Model | C-10 |
| Capacity | 10-quart |
| Weight | 65 pounds |
| Cost | $189 |
| Year of Launch | 1918 |
| Place of Production | Springfield, Ohio |
| Parent Company | Whirlpool Corporation |
| Year of Popular Model Launch | 1937 |
| Popular Model | Model K |
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What You'll Learn
The first KitchenAid electric mixer was the Model H-5, introduced in 1919
The KitchenAid brand was started in 1919 by the Hobart Manufacturing Company, which was based in Troy, Ohio. The company produced stand mixers and the first model introduced was the H-5. This model was also referred to as the C-10, a 10-quart stand mixer, which was marketed for home use, small commercial kitchens, and soda fountains. The H-5 was a five-quart mixer that weighed 65 pounds and cost $189 (approximately $2,777 in today's money). The mixer was an instant success, and its popularity helped KitchenAid take the top spot in sales.
The H-5 offered a range of attachments that allowed users to slice and strain, branding KitchenAid stand mixers as versatile "food preparation tools." The mixers became so popular that in 1922, the company introduced the H-5 as its new home-use offering. The mixers were sold door-to-door by a mostly female sales force, and they were also marketed heavily towards soda fountains and small commercial kitchens.
In the 1930s, KitchenAid hired industrial designer Egmont Arens to design a low-cost series of mixers, resulting in the production of the Model K. This model featured a streamlined profile and a modern silhouette that captivated consumers and cemented KitchenAid's reputation as a stylish and reliable brand. The Model K was the first iteration of the KitchenAid mixer that consumers today would recognize.
Over time, KitchenAid expanded its product range beyond stand mixers, introducing dishwashers, refrigerators, ovens, stovetops, blenders, hand mixers, and food processors. The brand has become synonymous with quality, versatility, and style, and its stand mixers remain a powerful symbol of domesticity and a kitchen essential for many home chefs and culinary enthusiasts.
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The Hobart Manufacturing Company designed the mixer
In 1917, Hobart stand mixers became standard equipment on all U.S. Navy ships, prompting the company to develop its first home model. The first machine with the KitchenAid name was the ten-quart C-10 model, introduced in 1918 and built at Hobart's Troy Metal Products subsidiary in Springfield, Ohio. The C-10 was marketed for home use, small commercial kitchens, and soda fountains.
In 1919, Hobart introduced the H-5 KitchenAid, its first in-home model. This five-quart mixer weighed 65 pounds and cost $189 (around $2,777 in today's dollars). The H-5 offered attachments for slicing and straining, branding KitchenAid stand mixers as versatile "food preparation tools."
In the 1930s, KitchenAid hired industrial designer Egmont Arens to design a low-cost series of mixers. This resulted in the production of the Model K, which featured a streamlined profile and a modern silhouette that won over consumers. The Model K was the first iteration that today's cooks would recognize as a KitchenAid.
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The US Navy adopted the mixer in 1917
The KitchenAid mixer was first introduced in 1919 by the Hobart Manufacturing Company. However, the US Navy adopted the mixer as standard equipment on all its ships two years earlier, in 1917. This adoption by the US Navy spurred the development of the mixer for commercial and industrial options.
The US Navy's interest in the mixer can be understood within the context of World War I, which began for America in April 1917. The Navy was experiencing a vast wartime expansion, and its role was focused on convoy escort, troop transport, and laying the North Sea Mine Barrage. The Navy was also the first branch of the US armed forces to allow the enlistment of women in non-nursing roles.
The Navy's expansion and new focus on troop transport meant that it needed to efficiently feed a larger number of people at sea. The Hobart mixer, which was originally designed for use in professional bakeries, would have been an ideal solution to this problem. The mixer was likely used to prepare large quantities of dough for bread and other baked goods, which formed a staple part of sailors' diets.
The Hobart Manufacturing Company was based in Ohio and had been producing large-scale mixers for commercial bakeries before the war. With the US entry into World War I, the company had a new market for its mixers in the US Navy. This adoption by the Navy helped to establish the Hobart mixer as a reliable and versatile piece of equipment, and the company soon began developing the mixer for home use.
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The mixer was marketed for home use
The first KitchenAid electric mixer was introduced in 1919. However, the mixer was first conceptualized in 1917 when it became standard equipment on all U.S. Navy ships. This prompted the development of the first home models. The first mixer with the KitchenAid name was the ten-quart C-10 model, introduced in 1918 and marketed for home use. The C-10 machine was also marketed heavily toward soda fountains and small commercial kitchens and was sold under the FountainAid and BakersAid model names.
The Hobart Manufacturing Company, based in Troy, Ohio, was the maker of commercial foodservice equipment. The company wanted to break into the retail market with a smaller version of its "food preparer"—an 80-quart stand mixer it produced and sold to professional bakeries. The first home model, the H-5 KitchenAid, was introduced in 1919. This five-quart mixer weighed 65 pounds and cost $189 (or around $2,777 in today’s dollars). The Model H-5 offered attachments that did everything from slicing to straining, branding KitchenAid stand mixers as versatile “food preparation tools.”
In the 1930s, KitchenAid brought in industrial designer Egmont Arens to create a low-cost series of mixers. This resulted in the production of the Model K, which featured a streamlined profile for the first time. The KitchenAid standard design has remained relatively unchanged since then. The Model K was released in 1937 and was the first iteration that today’s cooks would recognize as a KitchenAid. The introduction of color finishes in 1955 further cemented KitchenAid's popularity.
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The mixer was redesigned in 1937, captivating consumers
KitchenAid, an American home appliance brand, was started in 1919 by The Hobart Manufacturing Company to produce stand mixers. The first machine with the KitchenAid name was the ten-quart C-10 model, introduced in 1918. However, the company truly took off in 1937 when it redesigned its mixer, captivating consumers and becoming a household name.
In the 1930s, KitchenAid hired industrial designer Egmont Arens to modernise the stand mixer's look. The result was the Model K, which featured sleek lines and an enamelled surface. This new design was the first iteration that today's cooks would recognise as a KitchenAid mixer. It was also the first to feature a streamlined profile, and the standard design has remained relatively unchanged since then. The Model K was also the first mixer to use a bowl that secured to the base with an interlocking motion.
The new design was an instant success, helping KitchenAid take the top spot in sales. In the late 1930s, the factory would completely sell out of products each Christmas. The mixer's popularity continued to grow, and by the 1950s, KitchenAid was able to expand its product range beyond stand mixers for the first time. The company introduced dishwashers in 1949 and added its first refrigerators soon after, leading to its first full line of major home appliances.
The introduction of colour finishes in 1955 further cemented KitchenAid's success. The company offered colours such as Petal Pink, Sunny Yellow, Satin Chrome, and Island Green, reflecting broader industrial design trends of the time. By the time of the cultural revolution and the first man on the moon, KitchenAid was celebrating its 50th birthday, with its Model K-45 mixer becoming its most popular to date.
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Frequently asked questions
The first KitchenAid electric mixer, the H-5, was introduced in 1919.
The Hobart Manufacturing Company, which would later start KitchenAid, designed the Model H, an industrial electric stand mixer, in 1908.
The first home model was the C-10, introduced in 1918.
The H-5 was followed by the Model K in the 1930s, which was the first iteration that today's cooks would recognize as a KitchenAid.
The Model K was designed by Egmont Arens, who gave it a sleek, streamlined profile that captivated consumers.
