Archival Anecdotes: May 25, 2020

Milkshakes are indeed an invention of American industrialization. They first came into existence in the early 1900s and consisted of a hand-shaken mixture of crushed ice and milk, sugar, and flavorings. Thanks to the widespread use of ice boxes, the drink became a staple at soda fountains.

However, it was the invention of the electric blender in 1922 that helped to propel milkshakes into popularity. By the 1930s, the cold and ice-creamy treat was available at malt shops across the country. One man, Joseph Friedman gave milkshake lovers the chance to get every last drop with the invention of the straw in 1937.

Pictured here, the Nesbitt’s milkshake blender stands 13 1/2” tall 61/2” round at its base. This model was released around 1960 and featured a round cup embossed with the phrase “It’s Frosty.” This term “Frosty” had become an ubiquitous term in reference to the milkshake.

In 1939, the Mansfield News in Ohio stated, “A frosted beverage, in the vernacular, is something good to which ice cream has been added. Example par excellence is frosted coffee—that hot, tasty beverage made chilly with ice and frosty with ice cream.”