|
|
The Guide |
Photos |
Videos |
Columns |
Calendar
|
|
As most of you know, I'm taking time off from writing Balloon HQ columns in order to work on my balloon history book. But since Balloon HQ is celebrating their 20 year anniversary, I felt I needed to submit one. I salute Larry, Sheena and Mark for all of their hard work. And since an anniversary is a celebration of what has been accomplished, I thought that I would highlight a little of what has been accomplished in the early days of balloons.
First of all let me update you on my balloon history book progress. I've gathered all of the information that will appear in the book. I have almost completed the first pass editing phase. The next step is to compile it all and proceed with the second pass editing and fact checking. Then the photos will be added and the final proofreading done. The final step is to actually print the book. My best estimate is that it is about 70% completed. Some people have asked about pre-orders, but until I know my final printing cost, I can't set the price on the book. I will announce when the book is at a stage where I can take pre-orders.
In the last four years I've uncovered some very interesting information about the origins of balloons, the early performers and some of their creativity. I've found information about when rubber was first discovered, the extraction of latex from the rubber trees and the early days of balloon manufacturing. I have been able to dig out information about most of the early balloon twisters, their contributions and their original ideas. I even discovered who was the first person to make the 3-twist balloon dog. One of my chapters has information as to who was first to create a certain twist, the first to use a new balloon technique and other "firsts". I've found out who was the first to make a balloon column and arch. In my book there will be some great information for all balloon enthusiasts and buffs. So let me show you a sampling of some of the relics from the early days of balloons.
Here is a balloon ad from the August, 1974 Calliope magazine which was published by the Clowns of America, Inc. Notice how things have changed.
First notice the cheaper prices, that's obvious. I can tell that most of the balloons were made by the Ashland Rubber Company (Toytime Balloons) because of the nomenclature used like, #260A and #260W. But also notice that many of the balloons came in quantities of 200 and some in quantities of 144. This may have been approximately the transition point where Toytime balloons started changing from boxes to poly bags. And when they began changing to their new standard of 144 count. Today almost all balloon manufacturers sell their balloons in 100 count bags. It is interesting to see which books were being sold in 1974. Those were virtually all that were on the market at that time. See the Floor Pump being sold for $25.00. That would not be Tom Myers' Pump 1 made from PVC pipe. He created that pump in 1985. It may have been the pump pictured below.
1974 was about the time when Ashland Rubber Products began making their "Stinger" balloons (bee body) using two colors. Another ad by Cosmopolitan Clown Enterprises in the same Calliope magazine was selling #321 balloons with two colors. In my research, I found out that Joe La Monica once took a factory tour of Toytime Balloons and they were dipping their #321 balloons in one color. Joe suggested that it would look much better if the nipple end was dipped in a dark color to highlight the stinger. Toytime liked his idea and began making them that way. It is interesting to note that today we have started moving back to using just one color for bee body balloons.
Notice in the ad that Apple balloons were being sold. Those were actually a #315 airship with the nipple end being dipped into a dark color as shown below. Those were often placed on balloon sticks (cello sticks) and sold that way at carnivals and circuses.
As time went by, it became obvious that a skinny stem looked more realistic than a round bubble when making an apple balloon. So in just a few years, the Apple balloon got phased out in favor of using the 2-color Bee Body (#321) balloon for making apples.
Here is an ad by Ashland Rubber Products Co. showing their rocket balloons from 1961.
Here is an ad from 1952 for Pioneer Balloon's Jimmy Durante balloon.
In the 1950s, Oak Rubber Company made some wild balloons.
Another wild balloon was Oak's Mr. Balloonie.
Here is a balloon kit made by Qualatex from the early days.
I found out that the Eagle Rubber Co. made Coke bottle balloons.
These photos show just a very small sampling of the many interesting balloons that I've uncovered. For me it is always enjoyable to see how far the balloon industry has come.
