Some inventions seem small but change the way things work significantly, and these old-fashioned egg beaters were just such a game-changer for home baking.

Its products include yogurt machine, electric egg beater, electric lunch box, humidifier, toaster and egg cooker. The company was founded by Yi Feng Li, Ming Tai Shi, Shao Rou Long and Yong Chen ...

From mixing it up in the kitchen to “mixing it up” on the battlefield the egg beater has come a long way. My first trip was at an altitude of 900-1,100 feet above ground — no parachutes.

By eggbeater, I mean a tool that you hold with one hand and crank with the other. I do not mean an electric beater, corded or cordless. I do not mean an immersion blender. I do not mean a whisk.

Refrigerators, for example, replaced the need to haul giant blocks of ice into the house. And electric egg beaters replaced the need to whip a wire whisk really, really fast.