Cretors facts for kids

C. Cretors & Company is an American company that makes awesome popcorn machines and other fun equipment for places like movie theaters and carnivals. It started way back in 1885 when they invented the very first big machine to pop corn using oil. Today, C. Cretors & Co. is still in Wood Dale, Illinois, and the Cretors family still owns it!

The Story of Cretors: Popcorn Pioneers

How Charles Cretors Invented the Popcorn Machine

Charles D. Cretors, Bud Cretors, Andrew Cretors, and Beth Cretors are part of the Cretors family that still runs the company today.

Charles Cretors was born in Lebanon, Ohio. He later moved to Decatur, Illinois, where he opened a bakery. After that, he started a candy shop. To offer more treats, he bought a machine to roast peanuts.

But Charles wasn't happy with the peanut roaster. He thought he could make it better! So, he redesigned it himself. He then moved to Chicago, hoping to sell his new and improved machine.

To test his invention, Charles got a special license. This license, dated December 2, 1885, marks the official start of C. Cretors & Co. His new roaster used a small steam engine to roast peanuts automatically.

By 1893, Charles had made a steam-powered machine that could roast peanuts and pop popcorn in oil. This was a big deal! His machine was the first to pop popcorn evenly and with its own seasonings. This meant the popcorn tasted great every single time. Charles got a patent for his amazing peanut roaster and popcorn maker in 1893.

One day, a traveling salesman named J. M. Savage bought some roasted peanuts from Charles. Savage was very impressed with the new machine. He offered to sell it in his area. Charles agreed, and Savage became his very first salesman!

Charles Cretors took his new popcorn wagon to the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. This was a huge fair where he showed off his new popcorn. At first, he gave away free samples. People loved the hot, buttery popcorn so much that they lined up to buy bags! The delicious smell of roasting peanuts and fresh popcorn attracted many customers.

Popcorn Takes Off: Early 1900s

By 1900, Cretors introduced the "Special," a large popcorn wagon pulled by horses. It was a huge hit! They made three different versions of this wagon. Around this time, electricity was becoming more common. So, Cretors created the first popcorn machine with an electric motor.

This is why C. Cretors and Company has one of the oldest active numbers from Underwriters Laboratories (EA175). This number shows their long history of making safe electrical machines. Electric popcorn poppers quickly became popular. Steam power was seen as too complicated and even dangerous.

This old picture shows Cretors' "Improved No. 2 Wagon," a popular horse-drawn popcorn machine.

As more people started going to movie theaters in the 1920s, Cretors designed bigger machines. These new machines could pop and hold even more popcorn. Popcorn stayed popular through the Great Depression because it was a cheap and tasty snack.

Helping Out During World War II

When World War II started, C. Cretors and Company changed what they made. In 1941, the government ordered companies to stop making non-war items. So, Cretors became a supplier for the war effort. They bought new equipment and made things like aircraft oil line parts and radio parts.

After the war, it was hard to get materials. Cretors then introduced the "Super 60," a popcorn machine with a cabinet made entirely of walnut wood. Since then, they have kept designing new popcorn machines and features. They always try to meet the needs of movie theaters, concession stands, and customers.

More Than Just Popcorn

Cretors has continued to grow their product line. They now make other food service equipment too. This includes warming cabinets, systems for toppings, and machines for hot dogs, nacho cheese, caramel corn, and roasted nuts.

What Cretors Makes Today

• Small popcorn machines for homes or small businesses
• Large popcorn machines for big events or theaters
• Display cases and warming cabinets to keep popcorn fresh
• Special equipment for gourmet popcorn shops
• Topping and dispenser systems for butter, cheese, and more
• Hot dog cooking equipment
• Cotton candy machines
• Ice shavers for making snow cones