THE HISTORY OF THE RUBBER DUCK
Most people think of rubber ducks as bath toys, but their history is more interesting than you might imagine. Before plastics were invented, toys were made from hard rubber. The first rubber ducks, created in the late 19th century, were solid and didn't float. They were designed as chew toys for children or decorative items, often shaped like other animals too.
It wasn't until the 1940s that the floating rubber duck, as we know it today, became popular. A sculptor named Peter Ganine designed a floating rubber duck with a friendly face, which he then patented. He sold over 50 million of them, making the rubber duck a common household item.
Beyond the bathtub, rubber ducks have had some surprising adventures. In 1992, a container ship lost 28,800 plastic bath toys, including many rubber ducks, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. These 'Friendly Floatees' travelled thousands of miles, helping oceanographers study ocean currents. Some even reached the Arctic, frozen in ice.
Today, rubber ducks are not just toys; they are also collector's items. Limited edition ducks, sometimes dressed as famous characters or people, can sell for high prices. They remind us that even the simplest objects can have a rich and varied story.
