Odds are, when you were young, you had a rubber ducky. Did you play with the ducky when you were in the tub like most kids do? Did yours squeak? Did you have a bright yellow rubber ducky or was yours dressed as something else?
Most of us had a rubber ducky, but most of us have never thought about the history of the rubber ducky. Where did they come from? Who invented them? Why would someone think, “I think I will create a rubber version of a duck! Well, if you were looking for that history, you have come to the right place.
The True Beginning of the Ducky
In the late 19th century, rubber was emerging and manufacturers were creating everything they could out of the new material. You may have heard of Goodyear tires for cars. Charles Goodyear was the inventor of this new type of rubber for cars, but with this invention, so many new things could be made. Originally, rubber duckies were heavy and could not float. They were initially created to be chew toys and not hollow, light-weight floating toys.
50 Million Duckies
In the 1940s, there was a sculptor named Peter Ganine who created a sculpture of a duck and with the invention of rubber and his lightweight design, he decided he was going to patent the toy, have them made in a factory, and sell them in many stores across the world. He made and sold over 50 million rubber duckies! The rest is history!
Since the 1940s, the rubber ducky can be seen everywhere, from the tub, to Queen Elizabeth’s bathroom! It was reported in 2001 that Queen Elizabeth II had a rubber ducky wearing a crown in her bathroom. When this was reported, rubber duckies were sold even MORE in the United Kingdom.
Famous Rubber Duckies
Rubber duckies have even been seen on television. The most famous placement of the rubber ducky has been on Sesame Street. There was even a song written for Ernie called “Rubber Duckie.”
Check out how the Rubber Ducky has been used in Sesame Street here…
The world’s largest rubber ducky has also been floating around the United States and the world. A Dutch artist names Florentjin Hofman created a large floating duck which was 54 feet tall, 66 feet wide, and 105 feet long. The duck floated into cities on waterways and weighed in at over 1,300 pounds! The duck has been to Belgium, Sydney, Buffalo, New York City, Hong Kong, and many other cities across the world. See the duck below!
Rubber Duckies for Charity?
Did you know that rubber duckies have also been used for the purpose of fundraising? Many charities across the world have rubber duck races. Community members can purchase a rubber duck with a number written on the bottom. On the big race day, all of the ducks sold are dumped into a waterway. The ducks travel in the water to a finish line. The very first duck to make it past the finish line wins and the person who purchased this rubber ducky wins the big prize. This is a fun way for community members to give back to a charity or cause, but also a fun event for everyone involved.
Now you know!
Peter Ganine, the inventor of the rubber ducky, probably never realized he would be creating a toy that everyone would know when he first sculpted that first duck, but nevertheless, he created an international toy that every child recognizes and that is celebrated during the week of January 13th, as this is knows as the birth week of the Rubber Ducky!
Although you may have never thought about the history of the rubber ducky, it is an interesting and unique history, indeed.
