15. Play-Doh
In the 1930s, Noah McVicker, a compound designer for the Cincinnati-based company Kutol Products, developed a putty-like substance intended to clean soot from wallpaper. This product effectively removed grime without damaging surfaces. However, as coal heating became less common in the 1950s, the demand for wallpaper cleaner declined, threatening the company’s viability. In 1955, McVicker’s nephew, Joe McVicker, learned from his sister-in-law, Kay Zufall, a schoolteacher, that children enjoyed using the cleaner as a modeling compound. Recognizing its potential as a children’s toy, Joe McVicker rebranded the product as Play-Doh. In 1956, Play-Doh was introduced to the market, and its popularity soared, becoming a staple in classrooms and homes worldwide (smithsonianmag.com).
