Food

Part of a nation's history lies in what people eat. Artifacts at the Museum document the history of food in the United States from farm machinery to diet fads.

More than 1,300 pieces of stoneware and earthenware show how Americans have stored, prepared, and served food for centuries. Ovens, cookie cutters, kettles, aprons, and ice-cream-making machines are part of the collections, along with home canning jars and winemaking equipment. More than 1,000 objects recently came to the Museum when author and cooking show host Julia Child donated her entire kitchen, from appliances to cookbooks.

Advertising and business records of several food companies—such as Hills Brothers Coffee, Pepsi Cola, and Campbell's Soup—represent the commercial side of the subject

Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Nordic Ware manufactured this aluminum tray in 1976 to commemorate the Bicentennial of the United States. The tray bears an image of two men reaping grain, with their crossed rifles propping up an American flag that reads “76.” Nordic Ware sold a variety of Bicentennial cookware in its “In ‘76” catalog to commemorate and capitalize on the occasion.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.16
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.16
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
This three-dimensional Santa Claus cake pan (front) was manufactured by Nordic Ware during the early 1950s. The pan is made of heavy cast aluminum in two sections to create a three-dimensional cake that looks like Santa Claus emerging from a chimney. Nordic Ware specialized in manufacturing a variety of seasonal cookware products, including several Christmas-themed cake pans.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.09.1
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.09.1
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Nordic Ware manufactured the original Micro-Go-Round in 1980 to take advantage of the surging popularity of microwave ovens. Without a rotation mechanism, early microwaves produced food that had hot and cold spots. Identifying this problem, Nordic Ware developed and patented the Micro-Go-Round, which could be wound up and turned on, and would rotate a plate of food for up to an hour to produce evenly heated food.
Description
In 2007 the Museum collected thirty-six objects and twenty cubic feet of archives from Minneapolis-based Nordic Ware, a producer of cookware since 1946. The family-owned manufacturer is best known for its Bundt pan, the world's most popular specialty cake mold.
Over the course of several years company engineers tested an array of plastics to determine which could be used safely in a microwave oven. They also spent a good deal of time designing a turning mechanism that could rotate the plastic surface while supporting a heavy food item, and still be small enough to fit inside the housing. By 1978 they had several working models and, in 1980, introduced the patented "Micro-Go-Round." Between 1981 and 1987, the company shipped about twenty-four thousand Micro-Go-Rounds to suppliers per week.
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.17
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.17
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Nordic Ware manufactured this Classic Bundt Pan in the early 2000s as an attempt to reinvigorate the pan’s past commercial success. The traditional Bundt pan’s popularity rose after one was used to bake the “Tunnel of Fudge” cake that was awarded second prize in the 1966 Pillsbury bake-off. Subsequently, Pillsbury and Nordic Ware paired up to sell Bundt cake mixes and pans with great success.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.21
catalog number
2007.0034.21
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Nordic Ware manufactured this crepe pan in the 1950s. This pan resembles an inverted frying pan, with a non-stick convex surface that is dipped in the crepe batter and placed on the stove to cook. The pan is in its original box, which features a description of crepes, as well as several crepe recipes. This information would have been essential for many American cooks in the 1950s and 1960s who would have been unfamiliar with these very thin French pancakes.
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.02
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.02
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Nordic Ware manufactured this stadium Bundt pan during the early 2000s as part of their Platinum Collection. Since 2000, Nordic Ware has expanded their market by producing heavy aluminum, specialized cake pans for upscale retailers, most notably Williams-Sonoma, while still making stamped aluminum favorites for mass-market retailers like Target and Kmart.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.19
catalog number
2007.0034.19
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Nordic Ware manufactured this cake pan in 1976 to commemorate the Bicentennial of the United States. The designers failed to account for the fact that when the cake was removed from the pan, it would appear as a backwards U.S.A. The pan was then marketed as a serving dish before being discontinued.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1976
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.25
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.25
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
This Cookie King was manufactured by Nordic Ware during the early 1960s. The Cookie King is used to make spritzgebäck, a Scandinavian cookie traditionally made around Christmastime, by pushing dough through a variety of nozzles to form different shapes. The Cookie King is an example of Nordic Ware’s early cookware that was made to appeal to Minnesota’s large Scandinavian population.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.03
catalog number
2007.0034.03
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
This Bundt pan was a limited edition version, produced for Nordic Ware’s sixtieth anniversary in 2006. This pan is made of heavy cast aluminum, is a 12-cup size, and has a silver, non-stick Teflon coating. The classic Bundt cake pan became very popular after the Tunnel of Fudge Bundt Cake won second-prize at the Annual Pillsbury Bake-Off in 1966.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.28
catalog number
2007.0034.28
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
This Servo-King platter holder was manufactured by Nordic Ware during the early 1960s. The Servo-King consists of an inner oval-shaped platter of aluminum that could be heated and set inside an outer Bakelite holder that would not conduct heat. The Bakelite holder allowed the platter to be safely served.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.14
catalog number
2007.0034.14
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
This mold was used by Nordic Ware to manufacture its Bunny Cake Pan. Made of heavy metal, the mold is used to cast the front and back halves of the pan. Nordic Ware has always produced a variety of seasonal bakeware, such as the bunny pan created by this mold for Easter time.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.31
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.31
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
This card table tray was manufactured by Nordic Ware in the 1950s. It consists of two cup holders, a food container, and an ashtray. The tray could be attached to a card table, providing a convenient place for snacking during a card game or other activity.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.07
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.07
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
The Bundt cake pan has been one of Nordic Ware’s most popular products. Introduced in 1950, it was America’s best-selling specialty cake pan by 1960. This cathedral Bundt pan is modeled after the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The pan was produced in the early 2000s as part of Nordic Ware’s line of unusual and creatively shaped Bundt pans.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.06
catalog number
2007.0034.06
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
The Bundt cake pan has been one of Nordic Ware’s most popular products. Introduced in 1950, it was America’s best-selling specialty cake pan by 1960. This festival Bundt pan was produced in the early 2000s as part of Nordic Ware’s strategy of returning to its core business with a line of creatively shaped Bundt pans.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.22
catalog number
2007.0034.22
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
This krumkake iron was the first consumer product manufactured by Nordic Ware (then the Plastics for Industry Company) in 1948. Krumkake is a very thin Norwegian wafer cookie, served rolled into a cone shape. Batter is poured into the press and cooked with indirect heat by being placed on the accompanying stand. The krumkake iron sold well due in part to Minnesota’s large Scandinavian population.
Description
This Krumkake iron is one of the early kitchen tools made by Nordic Ware, the Minneapolis-based manufacturer best known for its "Bundt" cake pan. Started by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist as "Plastics for Industry" in 1946, the direction of the enterprise took a traditional turn in 1948, when they made a pattern for a familiar tool in Old World kitchens—the Krumkake iron. The iron was a local success, prompting the brothers to develop other Scandinavian specialty items including a Swedish rosette iron, and a Danish Ebleskiver pan. To market these new "old favorites," the Dalquists began a mail order venture called "Maid of Scandinavia."
For people of Norwegian descent, Krumkake is a favorite treat, especially served with coffee around the Christmas holidays. The batter consists of flour, butter, eggs, sugar, milk, and a bit of cardamom. Only one teaspoon of batter is used to make each wafer. After spooning the batter onto the heated press, the cook closes the iron, and squeezes the handles together. After a few seconds he or she turns the press to bake the other side. When the wafer is golden brown it is removed quickly with a spatula and rolled onto a cone. The resulting delicate, cone-shaped wafer with the fancy scrollwork design is cooled and served plain or filled with fruit.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.11
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.11
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Nordic Ware manufactured this French gaufrette iron during the 1950s. The iron’s two parts are hinged together, with handles extending from the opposite end. After preheating the iron, the rich, buttery dough is spooned onto one of the interior surfaces. The iron is closed and returned to the heat, then turned over to allow even baking. Because the interior surfaces of the iron are scored, a waffle-like texture is imparted to the wafers.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.01
catalog number
2007.0034.01
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Early microwave ovens did not heat food evenly. To solve this problem Nordic Ware developed and patented the Micro-Go-Round, a turntable for use inside the microwave in 1980. In 1985, Nordic Ware manufactured the Micro-Go-Round Plus, which was weight-sensitive. It started when a plate was put on, and stopped when it was taken off.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.18
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.18
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
The Bundt cake pan has been one of Nordic Ware’s most popular products. Introduced in 1950, it was America’s best-selling specialty cake pan by 1960. This sandcastle Bundt pan was produced in the early 2000s as part of Nordic Ware’s strategy of returning to its core business with a line of creatively shaped Bundt pans.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.23
catalog number
2007.0034.23
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
This three-dimensional Santa Claus cake pan (back) was manufactured by Nordic Ware during the early 1950s. The pan is made of heavy cast aluminum in two sections to create a three-dimensional cake that looks like Santa Claus emerging from a chimney. Nordic Ware specialized in manufacturing a variety of seasonal cookware products, including several Christmas-themed cake pans.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.09.2
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.09.2
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Nordic Ware used this mold to cast its tart baking trays. The mold is made of heavy metal and has 12 2.75-inch diameter fluted cavities. Nordic Ware used its metal-casting ability to produce a variety of metal goods such as this tray for making tarts. The second image shows the unfinished back of the mold.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.08
catalog number
2007.0034.08
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Nordic Ware manufactured this microwave-safe bacon-meat rack during the early 1980s. This rack was developed to address the problem of microwave-cooked meat being limp and unappetizing. To be used in conjunction with their Micro-Go-Round for food rotation, the rack would drain some of the fat from the meat, leaving it crispier and less greasy.
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.24
accession number
2007.0034
catalog number
2007.0034.24
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist. The company is notable for its innovative product engineering and continued production of cookware in the United States.
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist. The company is notable for its innovative product engineering and continued production of cookware in the United States. Nordic Ware (previously Northland Aluminum) used this mold to manufacture bundtlette pans. The pan is made of heavy metal and is used to cast a pan that would cook six bundtlette (mini-bundt) cakes at once.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.34
catalog number
2007.0034.34
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
This is a sand-cast aluminum prototype mold that was used for making Nordic Ware’s Tyrolean cake pan. The design is clearly demarcated on the inside, but the outside is unadorned and has a rough finish. The Tyrolean pan this mold made is one of Nordic Ware’s earliest products, and came with a set of recipes.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.29
catalog number
2007.0034.29
accession number
2007.0034
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including gri
Description (Brief)
Nordic Ware, a family-owned manufacturing firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was founded in 1946 by brothers Dave and Mark Dalquist, as “Plastics for Industry.” In 1950, the brothers bought Northland Aluminum Products, a small firm with a line of “Nordic Ware” products including griddles and steak platters. The same year, Dave Dalquist created a cast aluminum, fluted cake pan and trademarked it as the “Bundt” pan. The company continued to grow its product line to include specialty baking and cookware items, including the microwave turntable. Nordic Ware is notable due to its history of product innovation through engineering, and its continued production of cookware in the United States.
Nordic Ware produced this Bundt pan with blue Teflon coating in the 1960s.The Bundt pan was one of Nordic Ware’s most successful products, but early Bundt pans had to be floured and greased with shortening to prevent the cake from sticking. When Nordic Ware licensed the non-stick Teflon coating from DuPont in 1964, sales boomed.
maker
Nordic Ware
ID Number
2007.0034.12
catalog number
2007.0034.12
accession number
2007.0034

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