Mashers and whisks
Potato mashers supposedly date to 1771 when Frenchman Antoine Parmentier held a competition on new ways to serve potatoes. The first masher, much of the same design as today, appeared in the 1800s. This is one utensil that few people thought they could improve, although lots of cooks prefer packaged dehydrated and reconstituted potatoes.
Even before the 1600s people made whisks from branches and twigs tied together to stir food. The first metal whisk was made in the United States in 1841, fell out of favor when egg beaters showed up, and was reintroduced and made popular by Chef Julia Child.