Technology of the Fifties

By Hayley Mowatt

and special thanks to..

http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/elmer/infoCentral/frameset/decade/1950.htm

http://www.enotes.com/1950-science-technology-american-decades/important-events-science-technology

The World’s First Credit Card•In 1950, the very first credit card was

introduced by Ralph Schneider.

•The Diners Club issued their credit card to the United states this same year.

•The Diners Club credit card was made to pay restaurant bills as opposed to cash.

•American Express issued their first credit card in 1958.

•Bank of America issued the BankAmericard (now visa) bank card later in 1958.

Mr. Potato Head Patented•George Lerner from New York City

patented the first ‘Mr.Potato Head’ in 1952.

•The idea came from a previous invention called “Make a Face” which included an actual potato.

•Lerner sold his invention to the Hassenfeld Brothers who owned Hasbro Inc. (the toy company.)

•They sold the first Mr. Potato Head with a stryofoam head as the base and accessories to plug in to the face.

Mr. Potato Head continued..

•Mr Potato Head was the very first toy to be advertised on television.

•In 1966, Mr. Potato Head received a new addition with Jumping Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head.

•Today, Hasbro Inc. still manufactures Mr. Potato Head.

The First Hovercrafted Invented•Christopher Cockerell invented the

Hovercraft in 1956.

•The idea was to build a vehicle that would move over the water’s surface, while floating on a layer of air.

•It turned out to be one of the most successful inventions of the 20th century.

•Cockerell’s hovercraft designs led to the first hovercraft to be produced commercially, the SRN1.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSc2B_ZfNFo

The Hula Hoop Invention

•The Hula Hoop was a very old invention.

•There is no one person that can claim the idea of the Hula Hoop.

•The Ancient Greeks used it as a form of exercise.

•Older hoops had been made from metal, bamboo, wood, etc.

Hula Hoops continued..

•Modern companies had re-invented the Hula Hoop using plastic and adding things like glitter to the inside.

•The Hula Hoop became popular in 1958 when the manufacturer of a toy called “Wham-O” trademarked the Hula Hoop.

Barbie Doll•To top off all other “neato” toys invented in the fifties, Ruth Handler came up with Barbie.

•Ruth named the doll after her daughter, Barbara.

•Barbie was introduced at the American Toy Fair in New York City in 1959.

•The doll was made to be a teenage fashion doll.

•When Barbie was first invented, she had bendable legs.

Barbie, Barbie, Barbie•There was some confusion over Barbie when her real life measurements were an impossible 36-18-38.

•Later after Barbie was introduced to the world, Ruth Handler came out with a Ken doll.

•Ken was named after Ruth’s son.