The History of Random Fun Things

The History of Random Fun Things

Have you ever wondered where your favorite household items originated? No? Too bad. You’re going to find out anyway. Join me on this journey as I enlighten you with the histories of the most important and interesting symbols, objects, and artifacts in your life.

Toilet Paper:

Early image of household toilet paper

Yan Zhitui made the first reference to toilet-used paper in 589 AD when he said that “paper on which there are quotations or commentaries from the Five Classics… I do not dare use for toilet purposes.” However, Joseph Gayetty is most widely known for the invention of modern, commercially available toilet paper in the United States in 1857. Additionally, moist toilet paper, also known as “wet wipes,” were introduced first to the United Kingdom by Andrex in the 1990’s.

FUN FACT!: In the 1960’s, manufacturers like Scott produced pink, lavender, light blue, light green, and light yellow colored toilet paper. However, health regulations now prevent these color chemicals from being in toilet paper, and these companies no longer produce colored paper.

 

Cereal:

Although grits and oatmeal became popular in the 1850’s, cold cereal was first introduced to North American families in 1863. The first breakfast cereal was called “Granula,” and it was invented by James Caleb Jackson. Judging by the name, Granula probably wasn’t too tasty, and it never became popular because it required an overnight soak before it was soft enough to be chewed by human teeth. George H. Hoyt invented the first boxed cereal, which became popular because it was more convenient for consumers.

Silly Bandz®:

When Robert Croak founded his Ohio-based company called Brainchild Products in 2003, he was never expecting to one day invent a colorful worldwide phenomenon. These “bandz” are simply colored rubber bands that come in all different shapes, so many individuals believe Croak “got lucky” in his success. However, he refutes this argument by saying that he has been working on this innovative company for over 20 years, and he deserves this success. Croak observed a Japanese designer creating shaped rubber bands, which he decided to make bigger, more sturdy, and more detailed. His innovation then led to millions of children all over the nation buying and trading Silly Bandz® daily.

The Paper Clip:

At the end of the 19th century, iron pins were used as an efficient, cheap, and easy solution for keeping pieces of paper held together. However, they would create large holes in papers and rust marks, which made innovation necessary. In 1899, William Middlebrook was issued a patent for the machine that shaped steel wire into the loop that we now call the paper clip. This patent was then sold to manufacturer Cushman and Dension who named the clip the “Gem Clip.” The paper clip sets itself apart from many other inventions because since the clip was invented, the design has stayed almost completely the same. Many competitors have attempted to make new innovations, but the original Gem Clip has remained the most effective and popular form of paper clip.