July 12, 1960: Etch A Sketch First Produced in U.S.

Did you have an Etch A Sketch as a child? The toy, created by French inventor Andre Cassagnes, first rolled off the factory line on July 12, 1960. Although the toy's exterior has been available in different colors, the inner workings remain the same.

Invention and Sale of the Etch A Sketch

Many references cite Arthur Granjean as the inventor of the Etch A Sketch. According to Ohio Art's website, the inventor was Andre Cassagnes. So who was the actual inventor? It was Cassagnes, who did not have the money to register his patent. Eventually, Paul Chaze invested in the toy. Chaze's accountant Arthur Granjean filed the patent and his name became associated with it.

Cassagnes developed the toy in the late 1950s and named it L'Ecran Magique (The Magic Screen). Chaze convinced Cassagnes to relinquish his rights to the toy outside France for $10,000. It was first marketed in England as the DoodleMaster Magic Screen and was eventually bought by the Ohio Art Company and marketed under the name we know today.

How the Etch A Sketch Works

1. Horizontal and vertical knobs are turned
2. A pulley system moves an internal stylus
3. The stylus "etches" a sketch onto an aluminum powder-coated glass window
4. Styrene beads move powder evenly to erase the drawing when the toy is shaken

Etch A Sketch Facts

• One of the first toys advertised on TV
• 150 million sold in the U.S.
• An image can be made "permanent" by drilling a hole in the back of the toy and removing the aluminum powder and plastic beads

Resources:

Idea Finder - Etch a Sketch

Today I Found Out - How an Etch A Sketch Works

Wikipedia - Etch A Sketch

Wired - July 12, 1960: Etch A Sketch? Let Us Draw You a Picture

http://cecilbuffington.com/photo_122.html [image]