16 September 2016: Play-Doh celebrates its 60th birthday

On 16 September 2016, the children’s plasticene, putty, or modelling clay company, Play-Doh, celebrates its 60th birthday. The date is celebrated annually as Play-Doh Day.

The iconic modelling clay was originally developed in the 1930s, in America, not as a toy, but as a product for cleaning wallpaper. It was in the 1950s when it was marketed as a toy - an arts and crafts product - and the Play-Doh trademark and company was established in 1956. It was sold by Rainbow Crafts by Joe McVicker. From 1991 Hasbro took over the company. The Toy Industry Association, in 2003, listed Play-Doh in its 'Century of Toys List.'

It is used to make shapes, and is non-toxic, non-staining, and re-usable pliable putty. The trademark colours are red, blue, yellow and white. The range now includes a whole rainbow of colours, and more, including silver and gold.

Two billion tubs of the toy putty have been sold in 60 years. That’s 700 million pounds in weight – or 317,500,000 kilograms. If all that Play-Doh were rolled into a giant ball it would weigh about 2,000 Statues of Liberty.

http://www.usatoday.com

http://playdoh.hasbro.com/en-us/videos

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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