History of Rubber Duckies

History

• While the history of rubber dates back to the nineteenth century when the first rubber factories opened for business, it is less clear exactly when the first yellow "rubber duckie" was born. It is generally assumed that the natural progression of the rubber industry in the late 1800s led to the manufacture of rubber ducks and other rubber toys, although there are no specific details.

Time Frame

• Records show that the first rubber duck patent was issued in 1886. However, it was not until after World War II that patent designs approximated the general appearance of rubber duckies as they looked around the 1970s.

On "Sesame Street"

• In a more modern context, during the 1970s, the yellow rubber duckie as we know it was immortalized on the children's television show, "Sesame Street." The show's character, Ernie, carried a yellow rubber duck and sang a song about it called, "Rubber Duckie."

In the Bath

• In parallel to "Sesame Street" the traditional yellow rubber duckies quickly grew to be popular bath toys, manufactured in a range of sizes. Babies' bath and after-bath products also featured yellow rubber ducks on items like towels and blankets.

Collectibles

• From the 1970s, the history of yellow rubber duckies is traceable. Their growth in popularity led to numerous variations on the original design theme. Different designs and sizes of yellow rubber duckies created a collectibles industry (see Resources).

Fun Fact

• It has become an annual event in selected cities around the world, for yellow rubber duckies to "swim" for charity and other causes. The Halifax Duck Derby launches 10,000 rubber duckies into Halifax Harbor in Canada (see Resources), and adds to the ongoing history of the rubber duckie.