Smithsonian Channel

Each time you pass a Krispy Kreme Doughnut shop their red neon lights beckon you to stop in for a taste of their signature treat. The fluffy golden rings taunt you as they roll down the conveyor belt and through a curtain of glaze. Here at the office we’ve been known to give in and grab a few dozen to make it through a long Wednesday. How delicious are those doughnuts? It’s so hard to eat just one!

An image of doughy perfection worthy of a spot in Smithsonian’s vaults.  Image uploaded to Flickr by Scott Abelman.

The delectable doughnut shop down the street has been around since 1937 and like most businesses, started small with one shop and one recipe. As they expanded, it was a challenge to make sure the doughnuts not only tasted the same but looked the same as well. It was then, in the 1950’s, that Krispy Kreme invented its custom doughnut-making machine, The Ring King Junior. With the introduction of the Ring King Jr. came perfectly round, evenly golden-goodness. The machine eventually led to the doughnut making apparatus that we now ogle in the windows of Krispy Kreme.

Take a look at our sneak peak from Smithsonian Channel’s popular Stories From the Vaults series to see the early days of Krispy Kreme.

The original Ring King Junior could produce 60 dozen doughnuts in an hour and now lives in the Smithsonian Archives at an off-site warehouse away from the National Mall.

Enjoy our sneak peak? Stay tuned for more video clips as we countdown to the new season premiere of Stories from the Vaults, coming up on July 12th. And on July 13th, celebrate six-dozen-years of Krispy Kreme. Forget about the summer diet for one morning and enjoy a few doughnuts.