Veg-O-Matic II

Veg-O-Matic II

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Description
In the 1950s and ‘60s, as home cooks looked for timesaving shortcuts, the popularity of task-specific kitchen gadgets soared. One of the most successful was the Veg-O-Matic, invented by Samuel J. Popeil around 1963. While offering a quick and easy way to cut vegetables into various shapes, the Veg-O-Matic is perhaps best known for ushering in a new era of direct marketing. Popeil’s son, Ron, founded Ronco Inventions and began aggressively selling their products via dramatic demonstrations on late-night television.
While its name suggests a technologically advanced machine, the Veg-O-Matic is manually operated and made of plastic. Cooks push fruits or vegetables through a steel cutting blade that can be changed to produce various sizes of sliced and cubed pieces. Popeil tirelessly demonstrated the device on television while touting its timesaving potential, ease of use, and versatility. The Veg-O-Matic was one of the first products to feature the red and white “As Seen on TV” logo. Popeil’s commercials became famous for the shouted slogan “It slices! It dices!” a tag line that has become a widely used reference in American popular culture.
This Veg-O-Matic was donated by Samuel Popeil’s daughter Lisa in 1985, shortly after her father’s death. It dates from about 1963 and originally sold for $7.77.
Object Name
Cutter, Food
cutter, food
date made
1975
maker
Popeil Brothers, Incorporated
place made
United States: Illinois, Chicago
place owned; place used
United States: Illinois, Chicago
Physical Description
plastic (overall material)
aluminum (cutting rings material)
steel (cutting blades material)
ID Number
1986.0222.1A
accession number
1986.0222
catalog number
1986.222.1A
Credit Line
The Popeil Family in memory of Samuel J. Popeil
subject
Food Processing
Household Tools and Equipment
Kitchen utensils
Patented
Plastics
Business
Invention
See more items in
Home and Community Life: Domestic Life
FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950-2000
Exhibition
Food: Transforming the American Table
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

I have an older version of a Veg-O-Matic that was purchased at a yard sale 25 or more years ago and it only has one lock button on the top of it, right side. All other Veg-O-Matics that I have ever seen, including my mothers which I grew up with, have two lock buttons, one on either side on the top. I do not have the original box and I am wondering what year this was made.

Kay

Mon, 2020-05-04 12:30

While cleaning out my fathers house after he passed, I found one at the back of the top shelf in the pantry. Still in the box with instruction book and order form for accessories. The red and white box and machine are in new condition. Printed on the top says "wedger attachment optional" and the pbi logo. Brought back some good childhood memories in the kitchen with mom.

Cory Salisbury

Tue, 2019-02-19 12:28

I have an original from the 60‘s. It was my mother‘s.. I still use it to cut fries and some veggies. Just some fine sharpening over the years. Still works great!

barry harkless

Wed, 2018-12-12 08:37

"My wife has a cabinet that holds items she received years ago,old and new.While trying to pull something out of the cabinet,this box came out. And its a original veg-o-matic on the top of the box is 7.77. Our first remark was " what the heck us this? " It is new and still in the box with the orange paperwork inside explaining the product and some receipes.My wife remembers it but not the part why she hadn't used it,"

Mark Benjamin

Tue, 2015-03-17 13:00

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