Nancy Johnson

Nancy Maria Donaldson Johnson was awarded the first US patent for a hand-cranked ice cream freezer in 1843.

Nancy Johnson was an American inventor and entrepreneur who was born in 1795 in New York. She was married to Walter Rogers Johnson in Medfield, Massachusetts. Walter was a scientist and first secretary at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. They adopted two children. Back in the 16th century before freezers were invented. Ice cream was a very popular dessert, but it’s very labor intensive and took hours to make. Johnson addressed a pain point in the ice cream industry, where the process of making ice cream was time-consuming and labor-intensive. Her machine made it possible to produce ice cream on a larger scale, reducing the amount of labor required and making it possible to sell ice cream to a wider audience. She created the first hand-cranked ice cream freezer in 1843. Her invention revolutionized the ice cream industry, making it easier and more efficient to produce ice cream on a large scale. This was a wooden ice cream freezing machine, which used a hand-cranked paddle to churn the ice cream mixture inside a wooden bucket. The ice cream mixture was placed inside the bucket, surrounded by a mixture of ice and salt. As the paddle churned the mixture, the ice and salt mixture absorbed heat from the ice cream, freezing it into a smooth and creamy consistency. It was even possible to split the inner cylinder to make 2 different ice cream flavors. The invention was patented in 1843 and was the first of its kind, but Nancy sold it off cheaply. Johnson's impact on society is significant. Her invention transformed the ice cream industry, making it possible to produce and sell ice cream on a large scale. The invention also created new opportunities for entrepreneurs and small business owners, making it possible for them to start their own ice cream shops and businesses. Today, Johnson's innovation has evolved into more advanced and automated ice cream making equipment, but her contribution to the industry remains significant. Her wooden ice cream freezing machine paved the way for future innovations in the field, and her entrepreneurial spirit continues to inspire aspiring inventors and entrepreneurs.

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