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Play-Doh

arts Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Play-Doh is a famous modeling compound used for arts and crafts.

Play dough 04799
Play dough 04799

It is a non-toxic, non-staining, and reusable substance. Children use it to create many different shapes and projects. This pliable, putty-like material has become a global icon of creativity. It is highly valued for its ability to be molded easily. The brand has grown into a massive part of toy history.

Play doh craftbrand logo
Play doh craftbrand logo

The composition of Play-Doh involves several specific ingredients to ensure its texture. It is primarily a mixture of water, salt, and flour. A starch-based binder helps hold the material together. A retrogradation inhibitor is included in the formula. A lubricant and a surfactant also help with its consistency. A petroleum additive provides a smooth feel to the touch. Borax is added to prevent mold from developing. It also contains a fragrance and various colors.

Playdoh
Playdoh

Making Play-Doh is a precise chemical process. A chemist named Dr. Tien Liu improved the formula in 1957. He reduced the salt content of the compound. This change allowed models to dry without losing their color. The compound is also designed to be soft and pliable. Some versions, like Play-Doh Plus, are even lighter and softer. Users can also use tools like the Fun Factory. This device extrudes the dough into many different shapes.

The history of Play-Doh began with an unexpected purpose. In the 1930s, Noah McVicker manufactured it in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was originally a wallpaper cleaner for coal-fired homes. People used the putty to remove coal residue from walls. However, demand for the cleaner shrank after World War II. Families began using natural gas for heating instead of coal. This change resulted in much less soot buildup in homes. Additionally, washable vinyl-based wallpaper became very popular.

Play dough 04799
Play dough 04799

Joe McVicker helped save his company from bankruptcy through a new idea. His brother-in-law, Kay Zufall, was a nursery school teacher. She noticed her students enjoyed using the putty for art. She and her husband created the name Play-Doh. This was different from the original name, Rainbow Modeling Compound. In 1956, the Rainbow Crafts Company was formed. The company began selling three-pack cans of 7-ounce containers. By 1958, sales reached nearly $3 million.

2016 Nuernberger Spielwarenmesse - Play-Doh - by 2eight - 8SC3014
2016 Nuernberger Spielwarenmesse - Play-Doh - by 2eight - 8SC3014

Play-Doh has achieved incredible commercial success over many decades. Between 1955 and 2005, more than two billion cans were sold. By 2005, the product was sold in 75 different countries. At that time, it sold 95 million cans every year. In the United States, more than 6,000 stores carry the product. It was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998. The Toy Industry Association also named it a "Century of Toys" winner. This list honors the 100 most creative toys of the twentieth century.

The brand has also evolved through various owners and mascots. General Mills bought Rainbow Crafts for $3 million in 1965. Later, the Tonka Corporation bought the brand in 1987. Hasbro became the owner in 1991 under the Playskool brand. The packaging has changed from cardboard cans to plastic containers. The mascots have also changed over the years. Play-Doh Pete served as the mascot for 42 years. Currently, the Doh-Dohs serve as the brand's mascots.

2016 Nuernberger Spielwarenmesse - Play-Doh - by 2eight - 8SC3014
2016 Nuernberger Spielwarenmesse - Play-Doh - by 2eight - 8SC3014
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File:Play doh craftbrand logo.svg
Play doh craftbrand logo.svg
File:Play-Doh.jpg
Play-Doh.jpg
File:Play dough 04799.jpg
Play dough 04799.jpg
File:2016 Nuernberger Spielwarenmesse - Play-Doh - by 2eight - 8SC3014.jpg
2016 Nuernberger Spielwarenmesse -...
File:Playdoh.jpg
Playdoh.jpg
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