Since I love Siwwy Pu'y so much, I decided to write up a history about it. During World War II, when America's rubber supply ran low, some chemists desperately attempted to find a substitute. In 1943, James Wright, a General Electric engineer, combined boric acid and silicone, and the result, which wasn't much good for a rubber substitute, made an awesome toy. The goo attracted the attention of Peter Hodgson who collected $47,000 in debt to produce and endorse "Silly Putty." Siwwy Pu'y sold very poorly until talk about the new toy was featured in an August 1950 issue of The New Yorker. It only took three days for Silly Putty orders to top 250,000. Siwwy Pu'y was the new big hit, and continues its spree today.
Bibliography: Phillips, Charles. "Silly Putty." American History Magazine Dec. 2006: 69.
Bibliography: Phillips, Charles. "Silly Putty." American History Magazine Dec. 2006: 69.
Henry, how many colors does Silly Putty currently come in? What are the current statistics about the sale of Silly Putty? Are there any rivals to Silly Putty on the putty market? What is your personal favorite thing to do with Silly Putty and what color do you prefer?
ReplyDeleteI have an egg of Silly Putty in my car that I sometimes mess with while I'm driving.
Henry, I love the picture of Silly Putty!
ReplyDelete