On Feb. 5, 1884, a patent for an improved eggbeater was issued to African-American inventor and Cincinnatian Willis Johnson. Johnson's was no simple eggbeater - it was really an early mixing machine and it was not intended for eggs alone. His invention also mixed batter and other ingredients quickly and easily. Not only that, but it had two cylinders to hold ingredients. Each of them could mix different ingredients simultaneously, or one could be removed for cleaning while the other mixed away - as long as someone was cranking it, of course. The cylinders had hoppers and mixing paddles attached. The paddles were rotated by a shaft attached to a pulley and a hand crank.

Rebecca Goodman

Ohio Moments will appear here daily during 2003. Have a suggestion? Contact Rebecca Goodman at rgoodman@enquirer.com or (513) 768-8361.