Hasbro

Hasbro is the world's second-largest toymaker, behind Mattel. The Rhode-Island based company produced or acquired many of the most iconic toys and games of the 20th Century, including Monopoly, Transformers, and Play-Doh.

Fast Facts

1. Founded: 1923
2. Headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island
3. Founders: Henry and Helal Hassenfeld
4. Original company name: Hassenfeld Brothers
5. Credited with inventing the "action figure"
6. 2008: recall of Cranium Cadoo game for lead paint

History

Hasbro was founded in 1923 by brothers Henry and Helal Hassenfeld, Jewish immigrants from Poland. The company manufactured school supplies before entering the toy market. In 1952, Mr. Potato Head sold $100 million in its first year of production. Other successes have included G.I. Joe (for which the term "action figure" was coined, as a masculine-sounding euphemism for "doll"), Lincoln Logs, Lite-Brite, Nerf and My Little Pony. Through the decades, the company has acquired (and sometimes shed) other famous toy manufacturers as subsidiaries, including Parker Bros., Milton Bradley, Tonka and Playskool.

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