Multiboy: The cult kitchen helper from the GDR is celebrating 40 years of success

Multiboy: The cult kitchen helper from the GDR is celebrating 40 years of success

Everyone in the GDR has probably seen the Multiboy on the kitchen table. This practical kitchen appliance was more than just a food chopper - it was a piece of quality of life. The Multiboy, developed at VEB Elbtalwerk Heidenau, first came onto the market at the end of the 1970s and enjoyed great popularity in households. Anyone who owned their Multiboy had something very special that was considered a luxury at the time.

The name “Multiboy” speaks for itself: the device should be versatile and modern. With its introduction of the LZ 250 model, Elbtalwerk laid the foundation for an entire series of devices. In the following years, improved variants were developed, including the LZ 251 model, which was equipped with a more powerful engine in the early 1980s and was characterized by numerous practical features. The LZ 251/1 finally came into kitchens at the end of the 1980s and, with an output of 650 watts, ensured quick and effortless chopping.

What can the Multiboy do?

The Multiboy is not just a simple kitchen appliance; it can do more than just chop vegetables and fruit. It chops nuts in just eight seconds and cheese in five to ten seconds. There is also a wide range of functions: whether as a grater, chopping knife or even as a cheese grater - the possible uses are almost unlimited. Many users, like Gabriele Kemnitz from Cologne, who received her Multiboy as a gift after the fall of the Wall, swear by its easy handling and reliability.

The device is designed so that it starts when you press the lid and of course switches off again when you let go of it. An important note for users: Coffee or nutmeg do not belong in the Multiboy, as these hard foods can damage the knives.

Adaptations and innovations

Over the years, the product line expanded with models such as the LMZ 252, which offered adjustable speed, and the LZ 2000, which was optimized for raw food preparation. The Multiboy impressed with its simple construction, which allowed for quick cleaning, and the attractive design, designed by Margarita Kaiser.

With a weight of 2.1 kilograms and handy dimensions of 24 cm high and a diameter of 15 cm, the Multiboy fits into any kitchen. The devices are still available online today, often at a price of around 30 euros, which shows that the Multiboy myth is still very popular. The solidly built devices have a small fan base that appreciates the quality and durability.

At that time, the Multiboy was one of the first devices specifically designed for chopping food in the GDR. The devices were extremely popular, but since they were not exported, they remained a purely German phenomenon. Even though there were similar models in the West such as the Multiquick 4250 or the Moulinex Type 32002, the Multiboy remains unique of its kind.