Who invented the cotton candy making machine?
The product from childhood, which we know as cotton candy, is called differently in other languages.
In America it's called Cotton candy, which is closest to ours is cotton candy, although previously a different name was adopted in the USA: fairy floss- magic fluff, as it is now in Australia. And in England something in between these two has taken root: candy floss- sweet fluff.
In France, cotton candy is called barbe a papa, i.e. father's beard, in Germany - Zuckerwolle, or sugar wool (yarn), in Italy - zucchero filato, i.e. sugar yarn (thread).
Modern machine for making cotton candy at home
Confectionery products in the form of threads obtained from melted sugar have been known for a long time. There are stories (legends) that the ancient Romans had slaves who knew how to make such sweets. If there is any truth to this story, it makes cotton candy one of the many technologies lost during the Middle Ages. This art was revived (or first appeared) in the mid-18th century. But the manufacturing process was manual, extremely labor-intensive, as a result of which this product was expensive and therefore inaccessible to the common man. Similar confectionery products are also known in the East, for example, Persian Pashmak and Turkish Pişmaniye, although the latter is made with flour in addition to sugar.
For a product to become widespread, it must be cheap. In this case, there are no problems with raw materials - sugar is relatively cheap and little is consumed per serving. The problem is labor intensity and speed of production. To make cotton candy a truly mass product, it was necessary to mechanize the process of its production, i.e. create an apparatus or machine for quickly producing this product. And such a machine was created in the USA at the end of the 19th century.
Invented a machine for making cotton candy William Morrison (William Morrison) And John Wharton (John C. Wharton), the date of filing the application for which (December 23, 1897) is considered the date of invention of the apparatus. The production method and the installation itself are simple to the point of genius. Melted sugar heated by a gas burner and located in a rotating container, thanks to centrifugal force, was forced through a series of small holes or a mesh on the periphery of this container. Picked up by the air flow from the compressor, thin streams of molten sugar instantly crystallized into thin threads, similar to cotton wool or wool, and were collected by the operator onto a wooden or cardboard stick in the shape of a ball. The rotation of the container with sugar and the air compressor was carried out using a foot drive, similar to the drives of sewing machines.
The first installation for the production of cotton candy, 1899.
The first electric machine for the production of cotton candy, 1903.
To familiarize the public with the new product, the inventors chose the 1904 trade exhibition in Louisiana, otherwise known as the St. Louis World's Fair, in the materials of which it was recorded that Electric Candy Company earned $17,164 by selling 68,655 boxes of cotton candy (370 boxes for each day of the exhibition) at a price of 25 cents.
Named by the inventors Fairy Floss and packed in bright chipped-wood boxes (probably made of wood or veneer), the new product was extremely popular, even despite the high price for that time. Suffice it to say that admission to this fair, with access to all its attractions, cost 50 cents, and some department stores of that time advertised men's shirts for 25 cents.
It should be said that the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis became a significant event not only for America, but perhaps for the whole world. If we talk only about food products, then it was at this fair that, in addition to cotton candy, the famous sandwiches also appeared for the first time Hot Dogs, cold tea ( iced tea), roller and cone ice cream wafer packaging, peanut butter confectionery, i.e. These are products without which it is difficult to imagine modern America.
After this exhibition, the cotton candy industry began to develop rapidly.
For such production, which is already mass production, completely different devices are needed, namely automatic machines that would continuously produce cotton candy, divide it into portions and transfer it to packaging. And such machines were created.
Over time, cotton candy has, of course, changed. A great achievement in the development of cotton candy production technology is the appearance of color, smell and taste in this product. Today we are very suspicious of artificial colors and flavors, which makes these advances seem dubious. And yet, packaged cotton wool made from pure sugar is now difficult to find.
More than a hundred years have passed since the invention of the machine for producing cotton candy.
Although the principle of making cotton candy has remained virtually unchanged, the technique and technology have gone far ahead compared to the first machines. This type of business has gone very far from fair stalls, turning into a whole branch of the food industry. However, even now, somewhere with a massive gathering of people, you can see a cotton candy seller with his machine, surrounded by children and their parents. Someone starts their own business this way, someone remembers their childhood, and someone simply enjoys life.
Why does this happen: when cotton candy appears in our hands, we all turn into children! Maybe its original name - magic fluff - was the most accurate?..
Veronica Trifonenko.
Sugar lips, cotton candy.
Big eyes and sweet too.
I count the posts and greenery in the fences.
And the sky is so loud and loud.
I feel so good and it seems possible
Burn out, dissolve, become something else.
Touching once again the sweet dream.
Smile and glances, a shared secret,
Not hidden in darkness. The secret of happiness.
You laugh and look for something with your eyes.
I don’t know, it’s just something magical.
Once again smile, drown in a kiss.
Now I'm alive. Amen. Hallelujah.
Cotton candy is one of the favorite delicacies of children and adults at any holiday, fair or amusement park. But many do not know the history of the appearance of this sweet and airy product.
The history of cotton candy goes back to the distant 15th century. There are stories (legends) that the ancient Romans had people who knew how to make such sweets. If there is any truth to this story, it makes cotton candy one of the many arts (technologies) lost during the Middle Ages. This art developed again (or for the first time) in the mid-18th century. But the manufacturing process was manual, extremely labor-intensive, as a result of which cotton wool was expensive and therefore inaccessible to the common man. In the East there are similar confections such as the Persian Pashmak and the Turkish Pişmaniye, although the latter is made with flour in addition to sugar.
In 1897, William James Morrison, former president of the Tennessee Dental Association, created a machine capable of producing fluffy strands of crystalline sugar (this dentist with a degree also wrote several children's books and came up with a fat replacement made from cottonseed oil). But Morrison didn't pull this sweet treat out of thin air - cotton candy's predecessor was popular in 15th century Italy. To create this delicacy, the caramelized crystals can be whisked with a fork or whisk. The result is thin sticks, sweets, and sculptural figures that were used to decorate the table or even become part of the interior. During the time of Henry III of France, one banquet was held in Venice where parts of the furniture and paintings were created from molded sugar. In an era of decadence, when high sugar prices plummeted, the sweet indulgence became more common. And in the late 1800s, several cookbooks even included instructions on how to turn regular sugar into a special treat. As explained in a treatise on the art of boiling sugar, published in London in 1884, "Swirled sugar may also be prepared in vases, vessels, etc., the individual parts may be prepared and then glued together with a small quantity of the sugar used in the process " This was the most complex and most interesting element of confectionery art.
Then came machines that made untidy lumps of puff sugar. Submitted for a patent in 1897 by Morrison and John Wharton, the devices consisted of rotating plates that were driven by feet and heated by coal or an oil lamp. Using centrifugal force, the machine released crystalline sugar from a hot plate through a series of small holes to form "thread sugar or silk threads." The patent application stated that the purpose of the invention was to produce a food product consisting of threads of molten sugar, or candy. Very soon the inventors put their business into production and, despite the high price at that time, their products were a stunning success, which they still enjoy today. By the way, the process of making cotton candy has remained virtually unchanged to this day.
In different countries, cotton candy is called in its own way: for example, in America - “cotton candy” (cotton candy), in Italy - “sugar yarn” (zucchero filato), in Germany - “sugar wool” (Zuckerwolle), in England - “magic silk thread” (fairy floss), in France - “grandfather’s beard” (barbe a papa).
The French loved this tasty delicacy so much that they even made an unusual cotton candy-flavored vodka called Cotton Candy Liqueur.
When the Crusaders came to the Middle East, they became addicted to a local drug. The drug was called sugar. Its production from sugar cane juice was mastered in India and Baghdad. Sugar seemed like an unprecedented miracle to the invaders from Europe. It was sweeter than honey! And it was cheap! Almost always, these armored men held a small white piece of happiness tucked into their cheek.
When the Crusaders were driven back to Europe, sugar went with them. It became an integral part of European cuisines, but was expensive because it was imported from the same East. Sugar cane could not grow in Europe even in hot Spain. But when the Spaniards discovered the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, they planted them with sugar cane and began to get “their” sugar. Portugal, establishing colonies on the African coast, also began to cultivate sugar cane there. After the exploration of America, sugar made from cane became one of the main colonial goods. Then, from the same sugar cane juice, by fermenting it, they learned to make rum. But that is another story. Probably more fun.
However, the culinary history of sugar is also wonderful, and also joyful. Because sugar brings joy and fun. Everyone knows this. That is why the crusaders got hooked on him a long time ago. This is why children love sweets so much.
One of the treats that makes them literally go crazy is cotton candy. When I see children at some holiday devouring huge lumps of cotton candy, at first I feel nauseous: where is all the sugar? Then I remember that a large piece of cotton candy is made from just a teaspoon of sugar syrup and a small amount of food coloring, and I calm down. The children's faces sparkling with pleasure inspire joy, and the business savvy of the sellers, who manage to sell a spoonful of sugar syrup at a price ten times higher, inspires respect.
True, some equipment is required to make the delicacy. A heated metal cup with small holes in the side wall, mounted on the shaft of an electric motor. Sugar syrup with dye is poured into a glass, the heater and electric motor are turned on. Centrifugal force forces the syrup through small holes, and it hardens in the form of colored thin threads. These threads are immediately collected onto a stick or paper tube, and - rejoice, kids!
A machine for making cotton candy doesn’t cost a penny at all. But the production of cotton candy is advertised on many Russian-language websites as a good small business. The investment is small, but the market is huge and insatiable. Moreover, for their beloved children and at the holiday, parents will always buy something as cheap as cotton candy.
An electric machine for the production of cotton candy was invented in 1897 by two inventors, a dentist William Morrison (1860-1926) and confectioner, candy maker, John C. Wharton. Morrison and Wharton lived in Nashville, Tennessee.
It is characteristic that one of the inventors of the cotton candy making machine was a dentist. As is known, people in this profession usually do not encourage children to consume too much sugar. It should not be assumed that William Morrison expected an increase in the number of young visitors to his office. It seems that his participation in the invention should be considered an endorsement of the product. Cotton candy will not harm children's teeth! Really, how much sugar is there!
As is customary in America, the invention was patented in 1899. The first tests of this device took place at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. The cotton candy making machine experienced its peak load in 1904 during the next World's Fair in St. Louis. At that time, 68 thousand boxes of cotton candy were sold at 25 cents per box. It was then that the delicacy began to be called “fairy floss”. By the way, the entrance ticket to the exhibition then cost 50 cents. And the very next year, a machine for making cotton candy was in almost every candy store, and a bag of colored cotton candy cost 5-10 cents.
In the 1940s, a machine was invented that not only made cotton candy, but also packaged it. In 1970, the process was fully automated, and cotton candy began to be purchased in regular stores, and not just at holidays. Here, of course, the Chinese intervened and came up with many ways to color cotton candy to make the product even more attractive, and most importantly, even cheaper. So on most bags of cotton candy sold in stores, you can now find the inscription “Made in China”. And who would doubt it!
Cotton candy is one of the most popular sweets all over the world. In America it was nicknamed “cotton candy”, in England - “fairy floss”, in Germany - “sugar wool” (Zuckerwolle), in Italy - “sugar yarn” (zucchero filato), in France - “grandfather’s beard” (barbe a papa).
Despite legends that sweets similar to cotton candy were produced in ancient Rome, but were extremely expensive due to the complexity of production, no evidence of this has been found. But it is documented that the date of birth of cotton candy is 1893. It was in this year that William Morrison and John C. Wharton invented a machine for making cotton candy. This is evidenced by US Patent No. 618428, the filing date of which (12/23/1897) is considered the date of invention of the cotton candy machine.
The production method and the installation itself are simple, almost to the point of genius. Melted sugar heated by a gas burner and located in a rotating container, thanks to centrifugal force, was forced through a series of small holes or a mesh on the periphery of this container. Picked up by the air flow from the compressor, thin streams of molten sugar instantly crystallized into thin threads, similar to cotton wool or wool, and were collected by the operator onto a wooden or cardboard stick in the shape of a ball. The rotation of the container with sugar and the air compressor was carried out using a foot drive, similar to the drives of sewing machines.
To familiarize the public with the new product, the inventors chose the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, otherwise known as the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, in the materials of which it was recorded that Electric Candy Company earned $17,164 by selling 68,655 boxes of cotton candy (370 boxes for each day of the show) at a price of 25 cents.
Called Fairy Floss by its inventors and packaged in bright wooden boxes, the new product was extremely popular, even despite its high price for the time. Suffice it to say that admission to this fair, with access to all its attractions, cost 50 cents, and some department stores of that time advertised men's shirts for 25 cents.
Almost all sources claim that the cotton candy sold at the St. Louis World's Fair was made using electric machines, and that Morrison and Wharton are the inventors of the electric machine used to make it. But in patent No. 618428 there is no hint of the use of electricity, either as heating or as a drive. The thing is that by 1904 the device had been significantly improved, including the addition of electrical heating.
As often happens, the tandem of cotton candy inventors, however, like their Electric Candy Company, did not last long. The reason for their breakup is unknown to me, but Morrison himself received the next US patent No. 816114 in March 1906. The company was divided, renamed, but existed. Here is an advertisement for Electric Candy Floss Machine Company, Inc. products. from the mid-20th century.
More than a hundred years have passed since the invention of the machine for producing cotton candy. Although the principle of making cotton candy has remained virtually unchanged, the technique and technology have gone far ahead compared to the first machines. This is not surprising, because... this type of business has gone very far from fair stalls, turning into a whole branch of the food industry. However, even now, somewhere with a massive gathering of people, you can see a cotton candy seller with his machine, surrounded by children and their parents. Someone starts their own business this way, someone remembers their childhood, and someone simply enjoys life.
Cotton candy - a sweet symbol of childhood and carefreeness - has a very childish age: more than 600 years. During this time, from a delicacy of aristocrats, it managed to turn into an attribute of folk festivals, became multi-colored and became cheaper many times over.
Sweet beard
The names of cotton candy in other languages fully reflect its appearance and “magical” origin: “cotton sweetness” in the USA, “magic silk thread” in England, “sugar wool” in Germany, “sugar yarn” in Italy. In France it is called “grandfather’s beard”, and in Israel, India and Greece it is called “old lady’s hair”.
The sugar delicacy first became famous in Italy in the 15th century. At that time, this pleasure was considered expensive, because sugar was a product for the rich, and it was not easy to create this amazing “yarn” at that time: a special apparatus did not yet exist. Sugar was melted in a saucepan, and thin sugar “strands” were obtained using forks. The process was extremely labor-intensive. The finished product, considered a complete dessert, was served on a platter with fruit. In the 18th century, real works of art began to be made from cotton candy. Easter eggs made from “sugar yarn”, decorated with gold and silver caramel threads, have become especially popular.
In 1897, a revolution took place in the world of sweets: William Morrison and John Wharton invented a machine for producing cotton candy, powered by electricity. According to one version, there were four inventors in total, but only two were remembered. The principle of the miracle device was the same as now: cotton wool was made from melted sugar, which was poured through a sieve onto a cold rotating metal drum. Thin threads gathered into a lump during the cooking process. When they came up with the idea of adding dyes to sugar syrup, “cotton wool” blossomed: pink, as well as blue and yellow, were especially popular. In 1900, Thomas Paton performed a trick with cotton candy at the circus - the audience was delighted, and cotton candy “went to the people” and began to appear more and more often in the circus, at fairs and public festivities.
Air trading
In the 1920s, a brisk trade in the new delicacy began. A large ball of “cotton sweetness” had a low cost: of course, to prepare it you only needed 10-15 grams of sugar (2-3 teaspoons). Sellers of cotton candy were always present in places of mass celebrations and also staged a kind of performance: a man effectively and deftly winding amazing white threads on a stick aroused great delight among children.
In the USSR, cotton candy was one of the few available delicacies. It was sold at train stations, beaches and holiday parks. During perestroika, cotton wool also remained popular due to its cheapness. Today it is the same indispensable attribute of holiday celebrations as it was many years ago. It can be bought at zoos, circuses and amusement parks. Contrary to popular belief, cotton candy is far from the most harmful treat. One serving is the same two teaspoons of sugar that many people add to tea several times a day. The calorie content of a large ball of cotton candy is approximately 30 calories, and therefore even adherents of strict diets can treat themselves to this delicacy. Well, for those for whom buying a ball of cotton candy on a stick seems undignified, but nostalgia still haunts them, the enterprising French They came up with cotton candy flavored vodka. This soft pink drink is called Cotton Candy Liqueur. The bottle and its box are decorated in doll pink.
Cotton candy at home
You don’t have to go to the fair to buy cotton candy - you can easily make it at home. Today there are various machines for the production of cotton candy, by the way, quite miniature ones. They are not very expensive (the price varies depending on the quality) and are of Russian, Chinese, German and American production. As a rule, the set with the device includes wooden sticks, on which it is convenient to wind the resulting cotton wool. This device is ideal for those who often organize children's parties, and for some it can be the first step towards their own business.
But if you don’t plan to make cotton candy often, but still want to try it, there is a recipe that does not require special equipment, but requires a lot of patience and a design approach.
Cotton candy (recipe)
Ingredients: sugar, water (proportions 3:1), a drop of vinegar.
Dishes: Three forks, pan
Preparation: Pour water over sugar, add vinegar. Stirring constantly, heat the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Then repeat all over again, and so on for about 15 minutes, so that the syrup is boiled down, but does not darken. You should get a homogeneous viscous mass. Two forks need to be mounted vertically on the kitchen table at a distance of about twenty centimeters from each other. Dip the third in hot syrup and move it around two forks so that the sweet thread wraps around them. Be careful not to get burned. When the layer of cotton wool is of sufficient volume, you need to wind the resulting ball into a tube. Your favorite treat from childhood is ready!
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