KitchenAid Mixer Turns 90: We Love Ya, You Old Broad
Categories: Shopping, Design, etc, News & Trends
To celebrate its 90th birthday, the KitchenAid is available in candy apple red. Photo: KitchenAid
Happy birthday, KitchenAid mixer -- You look fabulous for 90! The brand is marking its 90th anniversary with a special edition of the historic stand mixer in candy apple red. As a tribute to earlier models, the new 5-quart Artisan® Series stand mixer includes a clear glass bowl in place of the stainless steel bowl currently provided, along with a 90th anniversary insignia on the mixer's trim band.
The idea for the KitchenAid standing mixer was born back in 1908 by Herbert Johnston, an engineer and later president of the Hobart Manufacturing Company. He wished that bakers had an easier and more sanitary way of mixing than the traditional iron spoon.
Johnston developed an 80-quart mixer, which was then ordered in bulk by the United States Navy. After World War I, the first home stand mixer was born. Based on the commercial model, the "Model H-5" was the first in a long line of standing mixers. The mixer got its name from one single homeowner who exclaimed, "I don't care what you call it, but I know it's the best kitchen aid I have ever had!" The KitchenAid H-5 rolled off the assembly line at the rate of four per day and was priced at $189.50 -- quite expensive for its time.
Women sold the units just like they do Tupperware or Avon today. They had mixing parties where they would demonstrate how the mixer worked to an audience of other housewives. Over the next 75 or so years, KitchenAid created lighter, more portable mixers with a slew of attachments. In the 1950s, KitchenAid introduced their signature line of colors, including Petal Pink, Sunny Yellow, Island Green, Satin Chrome and Antique Copper. In honor of the small appliance's 90th bday, let's take a look at some of the KitchenAid models over the years.
Still Mixing After All These Years
The first household mixer was called the H-5, and it's clear that it was derived from a commercial mixer. The industrial look has softened over the years while still maintaining its functionality and lightweight design.
KitchenAid
Attachments for the Model H, including a wire whip, flat beater, pastry knife and dough hook. They look like they're ready to mix some serious dough!
KitchenAid
The standing mixer sure has changed its look over the years. From top left, clockwise: the 1927 Model G, the 1930 Model F, the K3 Model from 1939, the K-4 from 1939, and the 4C from 1961.
KitchenAid
Other models of the KitchenAid mixer include, from top left clockwise, the 1932 Model A (Kaidette), a 1932 Model R, a black 4C from the 1960s and a model K. I suppose after 90 years, you're permitted to change your look a few times!
KitchenAid
To celebrate its 90th birthday, KitchenAid has released a beautiful anniversary-edition stand mixer in candy apple red. How shiny!
KitchenAid
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jdavistwins 11-11-2009 @ 4:28PM
I've had a classic Kitchenaid mixer for six or seven years. I don't know how I lived without it!
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MoniqueDC 11-12-2009 @ 10:26AM
I'm with the other commenter....."We love ya, you old broad?".. Yep, how dumb...and how patronizing. No more reading Derringer....
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Jessica 11-11-2009 @ 5:07PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KITCHENAID STAND MIXER! I so want one of these one day for know I have a GE stand mixer from my Mamaw haven't used yet due to It being packed up but always thought bright colors and fall like colors look so pretty In a kitchen I love the red candy apple stand mixer In that pix up their with the glass bowl saw on QVC would of bought IF I had more counter space!
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micky eggs 11-11-2009 @ 9:06PM
i remember my mother had a kitchen aid mixer from the late 40s it looked basically the same as the one i bought for my wife 1 Christmas in the 60s. i always liked kitchen aid appliances. i got a kitchen aid dishwasher from my boss who owned a major appliance store in 1973. , and when i was vacationing in 2006 & 2007 it broke i told the wife to buy another kitchen aid. she whined about prices and boughta kenmore, afew years later it crapped out so she bought a maytag. the cost of these machines was more than a kitchen aid. and work about 50% less than a kitchen aid. i try not to open my mouth about anything lest i be accusedof harassing her
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Sue 11-11-2009 @ 5:25PM
Just bought one on Kitchen Aid's ebay site. Love it! Fraction of the cost in stores!
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cannotbelievethis 11-11-2009 @ 6:11PM
with six kids running around, it's still about $200 too much for my budget. I have a 60 year old Mixmaster my mother gave me, when she downsized into her retirement community. It has milk-glass bowls, and while I did have to replace the beaters... it can stand up to even cookie dough and keeps on going... and no, it isn't for sale...
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Ann Johnson 11-11-2009 @ 6:33PM
I am still using my Mothe-in-law's K4-B which won't wear out so I can get a pretty colored one.
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kate 11-11-2009 @ 6:44PM
My mother tried to sell these about the time of the depression, but, hers was the only one she sold. She still had it when she died in the mid-1980's. Still have her business card. I've had mine for about 45 years. My sisters and three kids all have one. When my son was courting his wife he offered to make her a pizza. He showed up at her door with the ingredients in one hand and his Kitchen-Aid in the other.
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Donna 11-11-2009 @ 10:16PM
My Kitchen Aid mixer is over 50 years old and it's still going strong. It's actually never needed any type of repair. It was originally my great grandmother's, then was my mom's. I've had it for over 20 years and it's the only mixer I've ever owned. I know they are pricey, but clearly worth it!
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mouse028 11-12-2009 @ 3:11PM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KITCHENAID MIXER!!!!
I finally got one of my own in red my favorite color. I love it. It makes everything fast and delious. So glad I don't have to do with out any more. Keep up the great work for many many more years to come.
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Bob Halfpenny 11-12-2009 @ 12:54AM
I was the food service director at our local Chamber of Commerce and Women's Club in the late 1980's. We had perhaps one of the very first commercial Hobart (Kitchen Aid) mixers since the club was built around 1915 or1916. In all those years of heavy duty use the machine NEVER broke down. Of course the bowl and the attachments had to be replaced occasionally but that was to be expected.
The machine was installed near near its own electrical outlet and in all those years it had never been moved until I decided we needed a new kitchen floor. I put four of my strongest kitchen employees to the task of moving it. It was at that moment we knew why it had never been moved, it was just too darn heavy. Needless to say the new flooring was carefully laid around the mixer. In all my years of hotel/restaurant management I dealt almost exclusively with all sorts of Hobart appliances. It wasn't until I neared retirement that my wife bought me the top of the line Kitchen Aid table top mixer with the bowl that could be raised or lowered.
The very best thing about about the mixer is its warranty. If it should break (a highly unlikely occurrence) all you do is to call Kitchen Aid and tell them your problem. They then tell you to wait until a new mixer is sent to you. When you receive your new mixer you then use the box it arrived in to ship the broken mixer back to Hobart at their expense! NO QUIBBLING AT ALL!!!
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CINDY 11-12-2009 @ 3:41AM
MY MOM HAD ONE WHEN I WAS A KID. SHE WAS CLEANING AND THROWING THINGS OUT...SHE NEVER USED, HER STANDMIXER AND OTHER THINGS THAT WOULD BE ANTIQUES NOW, TOOK THEM TO THE DUMP!!! I STILL WON'T LET HER LIVE THAT ONE DOWN!! IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 68 YEARS OLD!!
MY HOME BURNED TO THE GROUND 4 YEARS AGO, VANDALS, THAT WAS ONE THING I HAD TO REPLACE. I DID AND HAVE NEVER USED IT! I WILL NOT THROW IT IN THE DUMP THOUGH!!I PAID RIGHT AT $500.00 FOR IT.
ANYONE WANT TO BUY A BRAND NEW KITCHEN AID? IT'S THE STAINLESS STEEL? ;O)
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