Veg-O-Matic
Encyclopedia
Veg-O-Matic was the name of one of the first food-processing appliance
s to gain widespread use in the United States
. It was invented by Samuel J. Popeil and later sold by his son, Ron Popeil
, and Ronco
, making its début in 1963 at the International Housewares Show in Chicago, Illinois.
Made famous by saturation television advertising in the mid- and late 1960s, Veg-O-Matic was a manually-operated slicer, primarily made of injection-molded plastic, which held two sets of parallel cutting blades. The Veg-O-Matic was shaped approximately like a capital letter "H" and had an integral operating handle. The item to be cut, such as a potato, was placed on the top set of blades, and then would be pushed vertically down through the blades by the handle, while the user's hands were kept safely away from the cutter by the shape of the handle.
The steel cutting blades were contained in a circular, cast-metal holder several inches in diameter. By rotating the top holder, the blades could cut flat slices or square strips, such as for French fries. By putting the slices through the machine a second time, they would be diced into small cubes. In the ads, Popeil would rapidly demonstrate this, while boasting "It slices! It dices!"
Sales were nearly exclusively via direct marketing, and Veg-O-Matic was one of the first products (if not the first) to bear the red-and-white "As Seen On TV" logo on the box.
The ads for Veg-O-Matic inspired comedian Gallagher to create his trademark "Sledge-O-Matic" act, as well as Dan Aykroyd
as a fast talking commercial pitchman in sketches on Saturday Night Live
, especially the famous "Super Bass-O-Matic 76" during the 1970s. Jonathan Richman
also recorded a song, "Dodge Veg-O-Matic," in the 1970s.
Home appliance
Home appliances are electrical/mechanical machines which accomplish some household functions, such as cooking or cleaning. Home appliances can be classified into:*Major appliances, or White goods*Small appliances, or Brown goods...
s to gain widespread use in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was invented by Samuel J. Popeil and later sold by his son, Ron Popeil
Ron Popeil
Ronald M. Popeil is an American inventor and marketing personality, best known for his direct response marketing company Ronco...
, and Ronco
Ronco
Ronco is an American company that manufactures and sells a variety of items and devices, most commonly those used in the kitchen. Ron Popeil founded the company in 1964, and commercials for the company's products soon became pervasive and memorable, in part thanks to Popeil's personal sales pitches...
, making its début in 1963 at the International Housewares Show in Chicago, Illinois.
Made famous by saturation television advertising in the mid- and late 1960s, Veg-O-Matic was a manually-operated slicer, primarily made of injection-molded plastic, which held two sets of parallel cutting blades. The Veg-O-Matic was shaped approximately like a capital letter "H" and had an integral operating handle. The item to be cut, such as a potato, was placed on the top set of blades, and then would be pushed vertically down through the blades by the handle, while the user's hands were kept safely away from the cutter by the shape of the handle.
The steel cutting blades were contained in a circular, cast-metal holder several inches in diameter. By rotating the top holder, the blades could cut flat slices or square strips, such as for French fries. By putting the slices through the machine a second time, they would be diced into small cubes. In the ads, Popeil would rapidly demonstrate this, while boasting "It slices! It dices!"
Sales were nearly exclusively via direct marketing, and Veg-O-Matic was one of the first products (if not the first) to bear the red-and-white "As Seen On TV" logo on the box.
The ads for Veg-O-Matic inspired comedian Gallagher to create his trademark "Sledge-O-Matic" act, as well as Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
as a fast talking commercial pitchman in sketches on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, especially the famous "Super Bass-O-Matic 76" during the 1970s. Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Richman
Jonathan Michael Richman is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. In 1970 he founded The Modern Lovers, an influential proto-punk band. Since the mid-1970s, Richman has worked either solo or with low-key, generally acoustic backing...
also recorded a song, "Dodge Veg-O-Matic," in the 1970s.