Rubbermaid History

I just started working at Rubbermaid and am absolutely fascinated by its history. Here are somethings that I have learned about the company. (This is basically what I find interesting and not a full history like the one you can find here)

The company started in 1927 when two men from the Wear-Ever pots and pans company bought The Wooster Rubber Company that made toy balloons. The two men continued to work full time at Wear-Ever dreaming of being able to run their company full time. I am so inspired by people who work this hard to achieve their dreams!   

Meanwhile, James Caldwell and his wife Madeline wanted to make new, rubber products that could be  brightly colored thanks to a new technique. In 1933, they recieved a patent for their brightly colored red rubber dustpan. Understanding consumer's lives and needs, the caldwell's dustpan did not get bent out of shape easily or chip plaster walls when hung in the pantry like metal dustpans did. They called their line of rubber kitchen products Rubbermaid. (Can you imagine trying to keep a house clean back then? You'd probably have no dishwasher or washing machine...AHHHH!)

In 1934, Caldwell joined the Wooster Rubber Company bringing his Rubbermaid products with him. The company continued to grow until WWII when it converted to military manufactoring making goods like rubber parts for a self-sealing fuel tank, life jackets and rubber tourniquets. (I really wish we had a picture from the war, but I couldn't find one :( After the war, Wooster went back to making rubber household products and continued to grow its business. 
 This is a Rubbermaid advertisement from the 1950s!

In 1956, Wooster introduced its first plastic product...the plastic dish pan. A year later, the company changed its name from Wooster Rubber Company to Rubbermaid Incorporated. 

In 1962, Rubbermaid changed the way Americans handle trash by introducing the first plastic trashcan. This is one of those revolutionary things that you don't think about but has affected EVERY ONE OF YOU READING THIS.  
This actually is not the plastic trashcan we released but one similar. Plus it says it's a collector's item and if you have one it probably is a collector's item :)

The 1970's was an interesting time for Rubbermaid. The company added sales parties to its marketing efforts and products like motorboats and skiis to its catalog.

 

In the 1980's, Rubbermaid introduced microwave cookware and a line of brightly colored storage containers. 

In 1999, Rubbermaid merged with Newell to create Newell Rubbermaid.

And now Rubbermaid is interacting on Twitter and through its blog to bring organizing advice to its customers! So there are the highlights of Rubbermaid's history. I hope you have enjoyed the ride :)