Kitchen Timer

Hello there. I am a little kitchen timer. My job is to help you in the kitchen. I go tick, tick, tock. It is a happy sound. I love helping to make yummy cookies. I love helping to make sweet cakes. Before I was here, sometimes the cookies would get too brown. A little too crispy. Oopsy. But I am here to help. I watch the time for you. Tick, tock, tick, tock. I make sure everything is just right. I love my job of making kitchen time happy time.

My best friend was a clever man named Thomas Norman Hicks. Thomas watched people in their kitchens. He saw that sometimes grown-ups got very busy playing or reading. They would forget about the yummy food cooking in the hot oven. He thought, 'They need a little helper to remind them.' That helper was me. It was in the year 1926 that Thomas made me. He gave me a special spring inside. When you twist my top, the spring starts to unwind slowly, slowly. That is what makes my tick-tock sound. Tick, tock, tick, tock. It is a quiet, busy sound. He also gave me a tiny, shiny bell. When the spring is all done unwinding, my little bell goes ring-ring-ring. It is a loud and happy sound. It says, 'Time is up. Come and see your yummy food.' Thomas made me to be a friendly reminder for everyone.

After Thomas made me, baking became so much fun. Ring-ring-ring. My little bell would sing out. No more burnt snacks. No more sad, crispy cookies. I helped everyone be a perfect baker. Grown-ups used me to make big cakes for birthdays. Little kids used me to make sure their first cookies were soft and chewy. I was so proud to help. I am still in kitchens today. I sit on the counter, ticking and waiting. I love to ring my bell and tell you that something delicious is ready to eat. I make sure every meal is just right and every cookie is delicious.