Toys - Play-Doh

2A can of...Well, nobody's really sure what Play-Doh isdrawing of this cute little boy had him wearing a
as its composition is a very closely guarded secret.smock and a beret. Later on the beret was replaced
As a matter of fact, Play-Doh was originally inventedby a backwards baseball cap. The mascot was put
to be a wallpaper cleaner and even has a patent foron every single can of Play-Doh that was sold and
this use. The patent number is U.S. Patent 3,167,440.became as well known as the toy itself.Also in 1960
It was granted to Noah McVicker and Josephthe first Play-Doh accessory was created. This was
McVicker. Ultimately, these two men realized thatthe extremely popular Play-Doh Fun Factory. The Fun
they could make more money selling this stuff as aFactory was basically a device that you pushed the
toy than as a wallpaper cleaner. So in 1956 theyPlay-Doh through to make all kinds of different
created Rainbow Crafts to sell their new product.Theshapes such as stars, circles and squares. You could
thing that most people liked about Play-Doh was thatchop up these shapes and serve them as food to
it was non toxic. You could actually eat this stuff andthe kid's dolls. But the Fun Factory wasn't the end of
not get sick. The salty taste may not be verythe Play-Doh accessories.Play-Doh next came out
appealing but it was certainly not going to kill you.with the Fuzzy Pumper Barber and Beauty Shop.
And believe it or not, kids did try to eat this stuff.After that they came out with Dr, Drill N Fill. These
Drove their parents absolutely up a wall.Play-Doh waswere all plastic molds. The barber shop was rather
one of the first toys to make its way into schoolsunique for its time. The Play-Doh was pushed through
and daycare centers. It was a simple enough toythis plastic head that made it look like hair. You then
that kids could play with and not need a lot oftook these plastic scissors to cut the hair and style it.
supervision and was versatile enough that you wereVery clever stuff for the 60s.Eventually, Play-Doh
limited only by your imagination as to what you couldwas taken over by Hasbro and they came out with
actually do with the stuff, which basically came in cana ton of food preparation machines as that was
and in a variety of colors. Since all the colors were stillwhere things seemed to be going at the time.
made of the same substance, you could mix themEverybody wanted to cook. Around this time you
together with no problem. Of course after doing thisalso saw things like Suzy Bake Oven and Creepy
it was hard to get each color back into its ownCrawlers food molds.But with all the fancy
can.The year 1960 was a very big year for Play-Dohaccessories, most kids are just happy to take the
because this was the year that the company camestuff out of the can and run their hands through
up with its first mascot, Play-Doh Pete. The originalit.Sometimes, simple is the best.