A Not-So Sticky Mystery

As new as this looked, it was sitting on a shelf without a box in the basement of a recent sale.  However, by its design, I knew it wasn't new. It sported that 1960's space-age/UFO aesthetic.  

This Mirro-Matic Gourmet Electric Sauté-Skillet (that's a mouthful) looked unused, still sporting its original hangtag.

It even appeared to have the original packing paper inside, along with the "Recipes and Directions" booklet.

The electric cord was still sealed shut.

I was initially surprised to see the inside was Teflon-coated, and thought maybe I was mistaken about its age, and perhaps it actually dated from the 1980's.

However, turning it over, I found the manufacture date of August of 1973, putting it right at the tail end of the midcentury.

"Teflon", chemical name Polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE, was actually invented (accidentally) in 1938.  It's earliest uses were for industrial applications, including acting as a sealant for pipes and valves used for Uranium enrichment in The Manhattan Project.

In 1954, a French engineer first used Teflon as a cooking pan coating at the request of his wife.  In the United States, the first Teflon-coated pans were marketed in 1961 as  the "Happy Pan".

For whatever reason, the original owner of this electric skillet didn't "stick" with it (get it) and shelved it back in the 1970s. Maybe it was an unwanted wedding gift, maybe they were leery of Teflon, maybe it wasn't their style, or maybe they just didn't like electric skillets.  It's an estate sale mystery that will "stick" around forever (sorry).