Toy Fact: Rubber Duck

The history of the rubber duck is linked to the emergence of rubber manufacturing in the late 19th century. The earliest rubber ducks were made from harder rubber when manufacturers began using Charles Goodyear’s invention, vulcanized rubber. As a consequence, these solid rubber ducks were not capable of floating, but instead were intended for use as chew toys.

Sculptor Peter Ganine created a sculpture of a duck in the 1940s, then patented it and reproduced it as a floating toy, of which over 50,000,000 were sold.

Ernie, a popular Muppet from the television series Sesame Street, performed the song “Rubber Duckie.” Ernie frequently spoke to his duck and carried it with him in other segments of the show. That made the Rubber duck even more popular and every child’s bath friend.

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