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From the earliest times, mankind strove to solve the problem of basic day-to-day survival by establishing a steady supply of food.
Groups around the country are experimenting with methods of resurrecting a once abundant and beloved tree that was virtually wiped out by disease in the 20th century.
After a mishap during an R&D project caused an experimental spring to gracefully “step” down a series of stacked items after being knocked off a shelf, mechanical engineer Richard James had the idea of turning his discovery into a toy – and Slinky was born!
While the mathematics underlying Spirograph’s circular patterns is quite complex, the toy’s enduring appeal rests with the fascinating beauty of the seemingly endless myriad of possible variations – and the highly satisfying process of creating them.
A new twist on the old technique of stereoscopic photography gave birth to the packs of circular reels which proliferated souvenir gift shops and drug stores nationwide during the mid-to-late 20th century.
Invented by a French electrician and originally called L’Ecran Magique, The Magic Screen, a catchy rebrand and saturation marketing on television in 1960 launched Etch A Sketch into the consumer toy market stratosphere.