One of the most recognizable toy company names is Hasbro. The Pawtucket, Rhode Island based company has created and sold some of the world's favorite toys. The company didn't start out as a toy company it was originally a textile remnant company based in Providence owned by three brothers Henry, Hilal and Herman Hassenfeld. The Hassenfeld brothers expanded their business to include making of pencil cases and then school supplies. When it was decided in 1926 to get out of the remnant business; Hilal left the company leaving his two brothers to expand their business making pencils and then crayons. In the 1940's the company started producing Nurse and Doctor kits for children and then modeling clay. During World War II Hasbro got into the plastic manufacturing business as an effort to support the war.
In 1952 Hasbro purchased a toy from its creator George Lerner. This toy was their first super hit it was Mr. Potato Head. In 1964 Hasbro believing boys would play with dolls released G I Joe. He was another hit.
Their motto for may years was "Oh wow its a Hasbro Toy!" In 1969 Hasbro bought the "Romper Room" franchise and put out a line of "Romper Room" toys. The also put out a line of "Galloping Gourmet" cookware but the line was discontinued after the salad bowls had a termite problem that ruined the brand. The toy line had a few disasters as well one was "Jarts" which were lawn darts that were considered very dangerous (albeit fun) and "The Hypo-squirt" a hypodermic shaped water gun described as a "junior junkie kit".
In the 1980's the company got even bigger with its purchase of the "My Little Pony" line as well as the entire Milton-Bradley company. The company now runs neck and neck with Mattel for the title of largest toy company.
One of the simplest and most popular toys is the "Slinky". Who doesn't love a Slinky? They walk down stairs, they always pop right back into shape and they are just plain fun.
Richard James a mechanical engineer discovered the Slinky while working with springs for the Navy in 1943. He accidentally knocked one of his springs over and it walked. He knew he was onto something it wasn't going to help the project he was working on but he knew it had the possibility of being a really fun toy. He experimented with different types of metal and spring designs until he came up with the version we all know today. He showed it to his wife Betty who was doubtful. Mr. James showed the toy to some neighborhood children who loved it and well Betty was convinced. The couple got a loan for $500 and formed James Industries making 400 Slinky toys at a local machine shop. They packaged them at home then went about trying to sell them. In 1945 they convinced Gimbles department store to set up a slanted board in their Philadelphia toy department. The original 400 Slinky Toys sold out in 90 minutes!
Betty James came up with the name Slinky looking through a dictionary and it was her insistence that the toy be priced at $1. The toy sold well in the first 2 years over 100 million Slinkys. Richard and Betty James divorced in 1960. Betty stayed on running the company and Richard became a missionary. The toy was produced by James Industries until 1998 when Betty sold the company and the Slinky to a company called Poof Products.
The Slinky is still popular to this day because it really is fun for a girl and a boy.
Baking with a light bulb used to be something made especially for girls but now thanks to McKenna Pope boys can now proudly own an Easy Bake Oven. The Hasbro toy company has bowed to the pressure from Miss Pope a thirteen year old sister of a boy would wanted an Easy Bake Oven. McKenna wanted gender neutral advertising and design. The oven toy has traditionally been made in pinks and purples; colors that are considered "girl colors". Miss Pope was not alone in her desire for gender neutral ovens. She has a face book following of 40,000 and male chefs like Bobby Flay behind her. Hasbro invited her and her parents to their office in Pawtucket, RI to listen to her ideas. The shirts at Hasbro could see the dollar signs in their gender neutral future and jumped on the "boys like ovens too" boat. Boys can now proudly bake with a light bulb too and not have to do it in secret. They can do it for only $39.99 retail.
McKenna Pope
