1. Mr. James Wright, who worked in the laboratory at General Electric during WWII,
invented an inexpensive synthetic rubber. During the war years it was used as calking and a medium for molding. When the war ended in 1945, no one knew what the synthetic rubber should be used for. Then Peter Hodgson, a store owner, bought the rubber, packaged it in plastic eggs and called it “Silly Putty.” The synthetic rubber is still sold as Silly Putty, but on today’s market it comes in 15 colors. It’s still sold in plastic eggs and kids love it.

2. In 1870, baker William Russel Frisbee began stamping his name on the bottom of the pie tins that held the pies that his family’s business produced. Frisbee’s pies were sold throughout the state of Connecticut and during the 1940’s students at Yale University began playing catch with the pie plates. They thought it was great fun to toss them through the air to another student.

A decade later, a flying saucer enthusiast named Walter Morrison designed a disk-shaped object that could be used to play catch. The disks were manufactured under the Wham-O brand name.

While on a promotional tour, the president of Wham-O happened to talk to some Yale University students. He found out that the students had been playing the game for years with Frisbee’s pie plates. Wham-O became the Frisbee and today the name is a household word. Kids, adults and even dogs have a great time playing Frisbee.

by Mary M. Alward