Here we Go! -- Chapter One KA H-5

CHAPTER ONE

Kitchenaid model H-5 home mixer

　

　

1918 With the end of the war, Hobart production returned to civilian goods and work on the home mixer program resumed.

1919 The Hobart model H-5, the 5qt home mixer with the unique planetary mixing action that is a KitchenAid exclusive, was introduced. When wives of Hobart executives tested the H-5, one remarked, "I don't care what you call it, it's the best kitchen aid I've ever had". From that day forward, that brand name has been the KitchenAid trademark; it was registered with the U.S. Patent Office in 1919.

The H-5 was produced at a rate of four a day in Hobart's Springfield, Ohio, facility, where, just as it is today, quality was the over riding concern in the production of KitchenAid mixers. Incidentally, the first H-5's, which included a juicer attachment, went on the market priced at $189.50… about $1900 in today's dollars.

When we refer to the model KA model H, this is what we are referring to -- not the Hobart Model H commercial model that is their commercial mixer.

In the early years, retailers were slow to take on the KitchenAid mixer. To counter their reluctance, Hobart established a direct sales force made up primarily of women who went door to door offering demonstrations of the new food preparation tool.

With the creation of citrus juicer and food grinder attachments in 1919, KitchenAid mixers were on the road to becoming the versatile "food preparation tools", as they were subsequently styled.

ATTACHMENTS

These are the beaters:

A = Flat Beater
B = Pastry Knife
C = Dough Hook
D = Wire Whip

Notice if you will, the beaters look like the Kitchenaid model G
beaters, but there are some differences. The attachment slot is configured differently, so they are not interchangeable with the model G.

Also, notice the shape of the dough hook. It is much more angular than the model G dough hook.

A. The 5 qt bowl for the H-5 is tinned metal, which when the tin comes off, will rust. The sides of the bowl has some nifty little handles, that the newer bowls do not have.

B. The hot/cold water jacket is also made of tinned metal.

C. & D. Appear to be parts of a colander and seive set, but the photo is not clear enough to see. There is no ceramic roller beater which should go with a colander and seive set of this vintage.

To the bottom right of the photo is a tinned metal food chute attachment. It is clipped onto the side of the bowl to make adding ingredients easier.

In the middle of the photo is a metal oil dropper hub attachment. Notice the entirely different styling from the model G oil dropper. It is made of tinned metal and has the look of the Tinman from the Wizard of Oz! It is made to slowly drizzle oil into the bowl while it mixes the ingredients for mayonnaise.

The thing with the handle in the middle right of the photo is a Disc slicer attachment [commonly called a Pelican attachment]. It is a hub attachment and it holds the slicing and the ice chipping discs to the far left of the photo. the front does not detach from the back in 2 easily cleanable parts, it is one piece hinged. This is the one for the model H

The slicing disc is neat because you can adjust the thickness of the slices by using a screwdriver! There are also a coarse shredding disc and a fine shredding disc available for the pelican attachment.

I just noticed something today that I have never paid any attention to before. I was forced to get all of my vintage KA mixer manuals out to figure out what was going on!

After wading hip deep through about 8 manuals I finally figured it out!

There are apparently 3 different types of pelican head slicer/shredder heads!

Yep, there is one type, with as Leathersmith says the front does not detach from the back in 2 easily cleanable parts, it is one piece hinged. This is the one for the model H!

It has been mentioned that a citrus juicer and a meat grinder came with the H-5. Not having any other information, I assume they are the same as the model G -- all cast aluminum models.

There were quite a few different variations of the ice cream freezer attachment over the years. In the pre-war years, the Model C-10, Model H-5, Model G, and Model F mixers each had their own specific version of the attachment. All of these used wooden buckets, and had a spring-loaded indicator that let the user know when the ice cream was frozen. With the exception of the Model G unit, all of these freezers are extremely difficult to find.

And there was a KA cabinet to house all of your KA Model H accessories on slide out marked trays and to hold the mixer to top.

It came in two versions. One with a regular cabinet door and one with a tambour cabinet door.

　

Both the No. 18 and No. 24 cabinets had quite a few variations in both construction and attachment layout over the years.  There have been a few No. 24s that are laid out, with room for the freezer can and no juicer space. There have also been a few (which I think are newer) that store the juicer and the oil dropper in place of the beaters and the freezer can.

In all the cabinets some have similar attachment layouts, but there are always minor differences in construction.

　

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

　

1923 Commercial radio became a reality. Paul Whiteman debuted George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. And an advertising campaign for the KitchenAid home mixer was launched in national media, including the highly respected Good Housekeeping and The Saturday Evening Post.

1927 Lindbergh made his successful solo flight across the Atlantic. Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs. And, John H. Smitzler, a New York salesman, also set a record, selling seven KitchenAid mixers in one day.