18. The rubber substitute which became an internationally beloved toy
In 1941 and 1942, the Japanese Army and Navy overran Southeast Asia, and the Dutch and British Pacific possessions which produced most of the world’s rubber. In the United States, shortages of rubber made tires the first consumer product subject to rationing. Gasoline was also rationed, not because of a shortage of petroleum, but instead as a means to preserve tires. Research into synthetic substitutes for natural rubber intensified during the war. Researchers at two American companies, Dow Corning and General Electric, independently discovered a mixture of silicone oil and boric acid which produced a compound with some, but unfortunately not all, of the characteristics of rubber. It could stretch, bounce, and resist heat. But it could not harden to the point it could be used as a seal or as tires. Still, researchers explored other uses for the product during the war years and immediately followed its conclusion.
In 1949 a toy seller and a marketing consultant, Ruth Fallgatter and Peter Hodgson respectively, began selling the compound. When Fallgatter gave up on the product, Hodgson bought the production rights from General Electric, He named the compound Silly Putty, packed it in plastic eggs, and promoted it heavily during the Easter season in 1950. In August a reporter for The New Yorker magazine discovered Silly Putty in a bookstore. His article describing Silly Putty and the amusements it offered caused sales to skyrocket. In 1961 Silly Putty was introduced in the Soviet Union, where it became a huge hit. Primarily sold as a toy, the compound has other uses. Apollo astronauts used it to hold tools in place while in zero-gravity. Therapists use it to help patients recover from hand injuries. In the 21st century, it is still marketed as a toy, usually packed in a plastic egg.