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May 08, 2006

Play-Doh Turns 50 years old

With our first child recently arrived, I am finding myself turning to the “toys” of my youth for inspiration.  While the little dude is probably too young yet for Erector sets or Junior Chemistry sets, I am thinking about sneaking some gooey colored goodness into the pile of toys that are currently “mom-approved.” 

My first choice – Play-Doh, of course, and in a striking coincidence, Play-Doh turned fifty years old last week. 

The following story ran at failedsuccess.com (a curiously snarky technology website):

In 1956 a new type of “modeling clay” for children was invented and began popping up in schools and stores everywhere. In 1965, U.S. Patent No. 3,167,440 was granted to Noah McVicker and Joseph McVicker for a “plastic modeling composition”, (which was originally intended to be a wallpaper cleaner) now called Play-Doh. Little did they know that they had created the substance of childhood memories as well as many a childhood meal, unfortunately.

Play-Doh persists as one of the most well known and popular childrens “toys” with over 2 billion cans sold since its invention in 1956. As you attempt to clean your children’s Play-Doh out of the carpet, the car, and the bathtub; take a look back with us at how it all got started.

Originally, Play-Doh came in only one color; off-white and came in a 1.5.lb cardboard can. Joe McVicker of Kutol Chemicals had learned from a teacher that modeling clay used by children in the classrooms was often too difficult for many of the smaller children to manipulate. He remembered that his non-toxic composition he had created as a wallpaper cleaner was easy to manipulate and could possibly work as a substitute for the typical modeling clay the schools were using.

Hasbro has quite a history on the mysterious and ubiquitous substance up at the Play-Doh website.

Heck, if it is good enough for Socrates – it has got to be for my kid.

via Tech Blog At PA Pundits » Blog Archive » Play-Doh Turns 50.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 08:31 AM.
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