Silly Putty

Silly Putty is a stretchy, bouncy toy that comes in a small plastic egg. You can pull it, stretch it, bounce it, and even press it on newspaper to copy pictures. It has been a favorite toy for over 70 years.

How Silly Putty Was Made

Silly Putty was invented by accident during World War II. Scientists were trying to make a new kind of rubber. Instead, they made a gooey, bouncy blob. At first, nobody knew what to do with it.

A toy store owner named Peter Hodgson saw how much fun it was. He put it in plastic eggs and sold it as a toy. It became a huge hit with kids everywhere.

What Can Silly Putty Do?

Silly Putty can do many cool things. If you pull it slowly, it stretches like taffy. If you pull it fast, it snaps apart. If you roll it into a ball, it bounces really high.

Silly Putty can also pick up images from newspapers and comics. Astronauts even took it to space to keep tools from floating away. It is both a toy and a useful material.

Fun Facts

• Silly Putty was taken to the moon by Apollo 8 astronauts.
• More than 300 million eggs of Silly Putty have been sold.
• Silly Putty bounces higher than a rubber ball.

Did You Know?

Silly Putty was one of the first toys to be advertised on television.