
National Presto Industries, Inc. a leading housewares and portable electric appliance company was founded in 1905 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. It began by making industrial-size pressure canners. Soon it became a recognized leader in the electric housewares industry as also for its innovation that resulted in key new products.
The company continually made innovative products catering to changing lifestyles. The early fifties saw expansion by creating time saving appliances. The Popcorn Now, a continuous corn popper was among the first poppers to use hot air instead of hot oil to “explode” kernels into crisp, plump puffs of popcorn. This new popping method quickly became a favorite amongst popcorn lovers.
In 1994 the Presto tradition of innovation continued with the introduction of the PowerPop® microwave multi-popper. The unique design of the PowerPop was an exclusive combination of a reflector that was built into the unit’s base and a special disposable popping cup enabled the PowerPop to concentrate microwave energy so effectively that virtually every kernel would pop.