Play-Doh

Play-Doh was created first in Cincinnati, Ohio as a wallpaper cleaner by the Kutol Products Company in the 1930s. Play-Doh is made of wheat flour, water, salt and a sort of petroleum distillate, among other things. Joseph and Noah McVicker were head of the Kutol Products Company at the time, they applied for the patent in 1958 and did not get approved until 1965.http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org In 1956 The McVicker brothers created the the Rainbow Crafts Co..

The dough like substance first only came in one color, which was off-white, but in 1957 three new colors were added to the line. Red, yellow and blue.http://www.toy-testing.org The early cans of Play-Doh had a small elf on the label, but soon the mascot changed to a boy dressed as an artist. The mascot was named Play-Doh-Pete. http://www.failedsuccess.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/playdoh_history

Over the next several years they modified Play-Doh to make it a little softer and a more pliable. In 1972 Play-Doh sold its 500 millionth can, only 16 years after its introduction.http://www.toy-testing.org The rights to Play-Doh has changed hands many times over the years. In 1965 General Mills purchased the Rainbow Crafts Co.. From there in 1971 Kenner Products merged with Rainbow Crafts Co.. In 1987 Tonka purchased the Kenner line.

The most recent is in [[1991] play-doh's current owner,Hasbro, purchased Tonka.http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/playdoh.htm In 1998 Play-Doh was sold in 21 countries around the world, and approximately 2.5 million cans were being produced each week.http://toy-testing.org

Play-Doh was actually created by accident, Joseph McVicker learned from his sister in-law, who was a teacher, that the students enjoyed using modeling clay in class, but it was too difficult for the smaller students to manipulate. So he a box of his non-toxic creation to the school, as a substitute for the modeling clay. It was an instant hit with both teachers and students, due to the fact it was very pliable and the smaller students could enjoy it. Joesph then offered to supply all the schools in the Cincinnati area with his product. His creation was soon showcased in the National Education Convention.http://www.failedsuccess.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/playdoh_history

In 1956 the McVicker brothers created the Rainbow Crafts Co. so they could create and distribute Play-Doh. There has been many changes to Play-Doh over the years,soon after it was created the McVicker brothers modified the recipe to make it a little softer and more pliable so that younger children would not have difficulty playing with it. At first Play-Doh only came in one color, which was off white, but later it added the colors red, green, yellow and blue.

Originally Play-Doh came in cardboard cans with metal bottoms. The metal bottoms were vulnerable to rust and the cardboard was somewhat flimsy so in 1986 the cardboard was abandoned for the more cost effective plastic containers.http://failedsuccess.com In 1960 Play-Doh-Pete was first introduced to the world, Pete was a young boy wearing a beret and dressed up as an artist was on the label of all Play-Doh cans. Now a more modern Play-Doh-Pete can be found, he is a little older and is instead wearing a baseball cap.http://inventors.about.com/od/pstartinventions/a/playdoh.htm

Play-Doh is used as for arts and crafts at home as well as in schools It is a fun way for younger kids to learn their colors or even shapes, and it is fun for the older children as well. Play-Doh has activity tables as well as sets, which include the Play-Doh Fun Factory. Play-Doh also can be a creative way to have fun at a childs birthday party, or even to decorate.