Making the Vortex Mixer

8 days ago

The vortex mixer was invented in 1959 by brothers Jack and Harold Kraft to solve the challenge of mixing fluids efficiently in laboratories.
The Kraft brothers had an entrepreneurial background, repairing radios during the Great Depression and later manufacturing record players after WWII.
The idea for the vortex mixer came from discussions with Dr. Samuel R. Natelson, who highlighted the need for better mixing equipment in clinical chemistry.
The first prototype was built in just three days using a motor from their record players and demonstrated successfully in a medical lab.
The vortex mixer's design involved a motor oscillating a rubber cup to create a vortex in liquids, eliminating the need for manual stirring.
The brothers patented the invention in 1962 and collaborated with Scientific Industries Inc. to manufacture and sell the Vortex Jr. Mixer.
They later founded Kraft Apparatus Inc., refining the vortex mixer with features like touch activation and speed settings.
Vortex mixers are now essential lab tools, used for mixing small to medium volumes, and come in various models with advanced features.
The invention significantly simplified one of the most tedious lab tasks, making it a cornerstone of modern laboratory work.

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