M. H. Graham Company

The M. H. Graham Corporation (Biloxi, MS)

Origins & Innovations

The company began in the 1930s, founded by Maurice H. Graham, a prolific inventor credited with several groundbreaking kitchen appliances, including:

• 1932 – Automatic Toaster
• 1937 – Automatic Coffee Maker
• 1939 – Rotary Food Cutter (his signature invention)
• 1941 – Automatic Pressure Cooker
• 1941 – Automatic Tea Maker
• 1948 – Automatic Waffle Iron
• 1949 – Rotary Food Cutter (amendment)
• 1951 – Jet-O-Matic Coffee Maker
• 1954 – Rotary Food Cutter (amendment)

The Rotary Food Cutter, patented in 1939, is considered Graham’s crowning achievement. Its clever design—a hopper, interchangeable conical cutting cones, and a stable three-legged base—established the standard for modern mandolin-style rotary slicers.

• In 1949, a Dallas cookware company adopted Graham’s design and rebranded it as the Saladmaster Food Cutter, building a worldwide direct-sales network around his invention. Over the years, Graham’s company filed multiple patents refining the device, with the last major revision issued in 1980 with a square suction base for the Health Craft Cookware Company.

The Jet-O-Matic Coffee Maker

• One hallmark product was the Jet‑O‑Matic, an electric coffeemaker that, unlike typical percolators, utilized a patented jet pump to “jet” hot water over coffee grounds without boiling—keeping temperatures under 202 °F to preserve flavor integrity.
• It was marketed in a sleek, stainless-steel design, could brew 3–12 cups, featured automatic shut-off with an indicator light, and maintained brew temperature until unplugged
• The maker’s label on period-exported devices often reads: “Made in USA – The M. H. Graham Corporation – Biloxi, Mississippi,” complete with patent numbers and model details

Maurice H. Graham passed away in 1955 at age 66, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of America’s most innovative kitchen equipment inventors.

Leadership of Elwood M. Graham (1955–1970s)

After Maurice’s passing, his son Elwood M. Graham assumed leadership, guiding the business into a new chapter.

Elwood’s Background

• Served in the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) during WWII, with postings in Europe and Asia.
• Took part in the occupation of Japan under General Douglas MacArthur.
• Served as an FBI Special Agent under J. Edgar Hoover, stationed in Dallas, Detroit, and Minneapolis.
• Later worked with the Mississippi Coast Crime Commission and remained active in the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI.

Transition to Biloxi

In the late 1960s, Elwood relocated operations to Biloxi, Mississippi, reorganizing as the M. H. Graham Corporation. Under his leadership:

• The company emphasized private-label production and contract manufacturing, supplying cookware companies in the direct-sales industry as well as commercial restaurant suppliers.
• The business grew to employ about 130 workers, making it a significant Gulf Coast manufacturer.

Kitchen Innovations & Legacy (1980s–1990s)

By the late 1980s, the company transitioned into Kitchen Innovations, a refreshed brand identity that continued building on Graham’s patented designs.

In 1992, the firm was acquired by Health Craft Cookware of Tampa, Florida, under Chef Charles Knight. This acquisition ensured that Graham’s hallmark product—the Three-Leg Rotary Food Cutter—remained in production. Health Craft manufactured the original model, along with two updated versions, until 2015, carrying Graham’s influence into the modern home-cooking era.

Patent Documentation for the Rotary Food Cutter

Later Patents (1978–1980)

Two significant U.S. patents assigned to the M. H. Graham Corporation reflect the company’s refinements:

• US Patent 4,214,714 (filed 1978, issued 1980) – Introduced a movable hopper edge for greater precision with interchangeable cones.
• US Patent 4,214,715 (filed 1978, issued 1980) – Expanded protection for the complete rotary cutting apparatus, including hopper, spindle, and conical cutters.

Earlier Patents (1939–1954)

Industry records indicate at least five patents filed during this period, covering the original design and improvements. These early innovations laid the foundation for the later refinements of the 1980 patents.

Timeline Summary