African American, Willis Johnson of Cincinnati, Ohio, patented an improved mechanical egg beater (U.S. pat# 292,821) on February 5, 1884. In fact, what Willis Johnson had really invented was an early mixing machine and not just an egg beater. Willis Johnson’s device was not intended for eggs alone. Willis Johnson had designed his egg beater and mixer for eggs, batter, and other baker’s ingredients. It was a double acting machine with two chambers. Batter could be beaten in one section and eggs could be beaten in another section, or one section could be cleaned while the other section could continue beating. The following is an actual excerpt from the patent… " Be it known that I, WILLIS JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new nnd useful Improvements in Egg-Beaters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. The object of my invention isto provide a machine wherewith eggs, batter, and other similar ingredients used by bakers and confectioners can be beaten or mixed in the most intimate and expeditious manner. The machine consists, essentially, of a main frame within which is journaled a driving-wheel and a pinion or pulley, the horizontal shaft of the latter having at its opposite ends clutches or sockets,with which are engaged scjuare or other noncircular arbors at the inner extremities of a pair of beater-shafts." #EggBeater #WillisJohnson #Searsly #Blackhistoryisamericanhistory #BlackExcellence #blackinventors #todayinblackhistory #Ohio #cincinnati #WhatWouldYouDoWithoutaMixer
