Happy Birthday Silly Putty
Today we visit an old friend. I didn’t realize how old until I read the information on this site. But here is site about a childhood friend to most of us, even though now it seems like such a boring way to spend time. Get ready to sproing!!
The site is called Happy Birthday, Silly Putty. It was Teich’s Tech Tidbit of the week, and is nostalgic look at this unique invention. Silly Putty is celebrating its 55th birthday this year. More than 300 million Silly Putty eggs (4,500 tons) have been sold since the product went on the market in 1950. James Wright, a researcher at the General Electric Company’s lab in New Haven, Connecticut, discovered Silly Putty accidentally in 1943 in the process of trying to make synthetic rubber (which was in short supply in the United States during World War II). GE was unable to find any practical use for the product and it remained a curiosity until Peter Hodgson, an unemployed advertising man, saw it at a party in 1949. The rest, it is said, is history.
Many of us have played with this toy for many hours. I can remember trying to chew it like gum. Now that was a warped thing to do. For sheer nostalgia, this site gets a 6.5 from the Warp-o-Meter. It has also given me a great idea for stocking stuffer gifts.
http://www.alteich.com/tidbits/t121100.htm
