Hamilton Beach 727B Classic DrinkMaster Drink Mixer, White

Drop a dime into the jukebox, press F2 for Fats Domino's "Blueberry Hill," and dreamily drift back to the '50s, when bobbysoxers and guys with ducktails or wearing white bucks (never, ever both) idled away after-school hours at the local drugstore's soda fountain sipping chocolate malts that had been churned to a smooth, frothy consistency by a mixer exactly like this one. Hamilton Beach's drink mixers began appearing at soda fountains in 1911; this 14-1/2-inch-high, 70-watt model, in white, recalls Elvis's first decade. But it's 21st-century, too, blending fruit smoothies and health drinks as well as milk shakes and malted milks. Also use it to mix puddings and beat eggs for omelets. Two speeds offer mixing flexibility, and the tilting head makes it easy to remove the spindle for cleaning. Its professional-style, stainless-steel cup holds 28 ounces and is dishwasher-safe. --Fred Brack