Ethan Clarke
The history of toys is a long one, with dolls made from clay and wooden carts with wheels dating back to Mesopotamia, around 4000 BCE. However, the first plastic toy made from celluloid appeared in the late nineteenth century. Celluloid was the first synthetic plastic, invented in 1863 by John Wesley Hyatt in upstate New York. Hyatt created celluloid in response to an advertisement offering $10,000 for a substitute for elephant tusk ivory in billiard balls. Before long, celluloid was used in the production of toys, hairbrush handles, and cufflinks. While celluloid was a significant innovation, it had several drawbacks, including flammability and fragility. Despite this, it paved the way for the use of plastic in toys, with companies like Fisher Price introducing entire lines of plastic toys in the late 1940s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First plastic used in toys | Celluloid |
| Year celluloid was invented | 1863 |
| Inventor of celluloid | John Wesley Hyatt |
| Material celluloid was invented as a substitute for | Elephant tusk ivory |
| First plastic toys made of celluloid | Late 19th century |
| First company to produce an entire product line of plastic toys | Fisher Price |
| Year Fisher Price was founded | 1931 |
| Year Fisher Price released its first plastic toys | Late 1940s |
| First plastic toy to sell one million copies | Mr. Potato Head |
| Year Mr. Potato Head was released | 1949 |
| First toy widely advertised on television | Mr. Potato Head |
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What You'll Learn
Celluloid was the first plastic
Celluloid was a passable substitute for ivory and tortoiseshell, and it could be carved and decorated. It was also a cheap alternative to rubber and other luxury materials in the early 1800s. Dolls were the first toys to be created out of celluloid and went on sale in the late 19th century. However, celluloid had several drawbacks: it was flammable, fragile, and prone to cracking and deteriorating over time.
In the early 20th century, most toys were still made of wood or metal, with plastic toys becoming firmly established during World War II. Toy manufacturing slowed with the start of the war, but businesses were able to respond to consumer demand. In the late 1940s, Fisher Price was the first company to produce an entire line of plastic toys.
The development of plastic toys continued in the post-war era, with toys like Lego bricks bringing endless possibilities for creativity and building. Plastic toys became cherished relics of childhood, with many adults today collecting vintage plastic toys. The concerns about how plastic toys impact the environment have led to the development of biodegradable plastics and recyclable materials.
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It was invented in 1863
The first plastic toy was made of celluloid, the first synthetic plastic, which was invented in 1863 by John Wesley Hyatt in upstate New York. Hyatt was a printer by trade and the son of a blacksmith. He created celluloid in response to an advertisement offering $10,000 for a substitute for elephant tusk ivory in the production of billiard balls. Billiards was becoming increasingly popular, and the expense of obtaining African ivory was rising.
Celluloid was a mixture of nitrocellulose and camphor, resulting in a transparent substance that could be shaped or painted. It was a passable substitute for ivory and tortoiseshell, and it could be carved and decorated. It was also a cheaper alternative to rubber and other luxury materials in the early 1800s. Before long, celluloid was used in many popular products, from hairbrush handles to cufflinks.
The first plastic toys made of celluloid appeared in the late 19th century, with dolls being one of the first toys created from celluloid and sold as playthings. However, celluloid had several drawbacks, including flammability and fragility, and it was eventually replaced by other plastics in the early 20th century. Despite this, celluloid played a significant role in the development of the toy industry, with plastic toys becoming firmly established during World War II and experiencing a surge in popularity in the 1950s and 1960s.
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Used for billiard balls and toys
The first plastic toy was made from celluloid, the first synthetic plastic, invented in 1863 by John Wesley Hyatt in upstate New York. Hyatt was a printer and the son of a blacksmith. He created celluloid in response to an advertisement that offered $10,000 for a material that could be used in place of elephant tusk ivory in the production of billiard balls. Billiards was becoming increasingly popular, and the expense of obtaining African ivory was rising.
Celluloid was a mixture of nitrocellulose and camphor, resulting in a transparent substance that could be shaped or painted. It was a passable substitute for ivory and tortoiseshell, and it could be carved and decorated. It was also a popular substitute for ivory in the production of dolls, which were sold as toys. Before long, celluloid was used in many popular products, from hairbrush handles to cufflinks.
The first plastic toys made of celluloid appeared in the late nineteenth century. However, celluloid had several drawbacks. It was flammable, fragile, and prone to cracking and deteriorating over time. It was used in manufacturing for decades, but better alternatives were sought. One such alternative was Bakelite, the world's first entirely synthetic plastic, created by Leo Bakeland. Bakelite was produced in the first quarter of the twentieth century and used in the production of toys, jewellery, trophies, and more.
In the late 1940s, Fisher-Price became the first company to produce an entire line of plastic toys. The popularity of plastic toys grew significantly after World War II, as they were inexpensive, colourful, and lightweight. Plastic toys laid the foundation for the modern toy industry, with classic toys like Barbie dolls, Lego bricks, and action figures being made from plastic.
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Plastic toys became popular post-WWII
The first plastic toys made of celluloid appeared in the late 19th century. However, it was not until after World War II that plastic toys became popular. This popularity can be attributed to several factors, including scientific advancements, the post-war baby boom, and the rise of television and advertising.
During and after World War II, scientific advancements led to the creation of new types of plastic that were colourful and inexpensive. These plastics became important during the war as certain materials, such as silk and natural rubber, became scarce due to the demands of the military. Companies that had been producing plastic toys and parts for wartime applications were able to quickly transition back to making toys after the war, taking advantage of the increased availability of plastics for civilian manufacturing.
The post-war baby boom also contributed to the popularity of plastic toys. Between 1946 and 1964, more than 76 million children were born in the United States, providing a vast potential customer base for the toy industry. As television became more widespread in American homes, advertisers realised they could reach children directly through TV commercials. This combination of a growing market and effective advertising contributed to the surge in toy sales, with sales increasing from $84 million in 1940 to $900 million by 1953 and into the billions by the early 1960s.
The availability of new materials and the changing demographic landscape encouraged toy companies to experiment with plastic toys. Before the war, plastic toys were considered high-end, but after the war, companies such as Fisher-Price embraced plastic for their entire product lines, making toys more affordable and accessible to a wider range of consumers.
The increased use of plastic in toys also enabled new possibilities for designers and manufacturers. Traditional board games evolved into three-dimensional experiences, such as the Mouse Trap Game released in 1963, which would not have been possible without plastic.
In summary, the popularity of plastic toys post-World War II was driven by a combination of scientific advancements, a growing market of children, effective advertising, and the recognition of plastic as a versatile and affordable material for toy production.
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Mr. Potato Head was the first plastic toy to sell 1 million copies
The first plastic toys were made of celluloid, the first synthetic plastic, invented in 1863. Late in the 19th century, celluloid was used to make the first plastic toys. However, celluloid had several drawbacks, such as being flammable and fragile, and its surface cracked and deteriorated over time. It was not until World War II that plastic toys became firmly established.
Mr. Potato Head's popularity led to the introduction of Mrs. Potato Head in 1953, and soon after, Brother Spud and Sister Yam completed the family, along with accessories like a car, boat trailer, kitchen set, stroller, and pets. In the 1960s, Hasbro also released the Tooty Frooty Friends kit, which allowed children to build four additional characters: Katie the Carrot, Kooky the Cucumber, Oscar the Orange, and Pete the Pepper. Due to complaints about rotting vegetables and new government safety regulations, Hasbro began including a plastic potato body with the toy set in 1964.
Mr. Potato Head's success extended beyond toy sales, as it was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame and featured in the Toy Story franchise. The character also received recognition through awards and cultural parodies, solidifying its iconic status in the world of plastic toys.
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Frequently asked questions
The first plastic toys were made from celluloid, the first synthetic plastic, which was invented in 1863 by John Wesley Hyatt in upstate New York. Dolls were among the first celluloid toys, which were produced in the late 19th century.
Celluloid was invented in response to an advertisement that offered $10,000 for a substitute for elephant tusk ivory in the production of billiard balls.
Celluloid was discovered to have several drawbacks, including flammability, fragility, and a tendency for its surface to crack and deteriorate over time.
Bakelite, the world's first entirely synthetic plastic, was created by Leo Bakeland and marked the start of the modern plastics industry. Catalin was a similar product produced by the American Catalin Company when Bakelite's patent expired in 1927.
Fisher-Price was the first company to produce an entire line of plastic toys in the late 1940s.
