The 50 Year History of Play-Doh

tanagra writes "50 years ago U.S. Patent No. 3,167,440 was granted to Noah McVicker and Joseph McVicker for a "plastic modeling composition", (which was originally intended to be a wallpaper cleaner) now called Play-Doh. Little did they know that they had created the substance of childhood memories as well as many a childhood meal, unfortunately. Play-Doh persists as one of the most well known and popular children's "toys". As you attempt to clean your children's Play-Doh out of the carpet, the car, and the bathtub; take a look back with us at how it all got started."

Comments

Recipes

[zymano]

Home Made 'Play - Doh'

Ingredients

        * 2 cups plain flour
        * 1 cup salt
        * 2 cups water
        * 4 teaspoons cream of tartar
        * 2 tablespoons cooking oil
        * food colouring

Method

        * Mix ingredients in a pan and stir while heating gently
        * When dough is formed tip out and cool on grease proof paper
        * When cool kneed until smooth
        * Store in airtight container in a cool place

Another recipe. Including Silly Putty recipe. Hmmm
http://k2.kirtland.cc.mi.us/~balbachl/kidrecip.htm

Re:misinformation

[Anonymous Coward]

The patent describes several alternatives, and is vague about additives, so I think it is fair to say that the formula isn't published. We know in general what it contains, but the specific formula used for the product aren't necessarily public. It's a long way from knowing the ingredients to knowing the "formula" -- which includes the actual ratios and specifications of ingredients and the process used to combine them.

The ingredients noted in the patent (simplified for readability)
  - wheat flour
  - water
  - salt
  - deodorized kerosene
  - borax
  - an alum, such as aluminum sulfate

Yum!