I have been blessed to inherit a special kitchen 'appliance' from my mother - who inherited it from my dad's mother. This is a picture of her holding my firstborn - daughter, Deb ~ a month before grandma went to heaven. This appliance is called a "Brown Bobby Machine." It has a cloth-covered cord...that should give you a clue to how old it is.
My grandparents purchased this little machine about 1910. My grandmother made the 'greaseless donuts' and my dad and his siblings sold them door to door, in little cartons, similar to our egg carton today.
This is a picture of the machine ~ it's similar to a waffle iron and makes 6 donuts at a time.I wasn't able to get a clear picture of the metal plate on the bottom front of the base, but this is what it reads...
BROWN BOBBY
Greaseless Doughnut Machine
Equipped with hold-heet elements
Food Display Machine Corp.
6 Amps Chicago, USA 105-120 volts
They're really not greaseless ~ they're just not fried in oil like a 'normal' doughnut ~ they’re baked!
