Walter Diemer
Walter Diemer | |
---|---|
Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | January 8, 1904
Died | January 8, 1998 Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S. | (aged 94)
Occupation | Accountant |
Employer | Fleer |
Known for | Inventing bubble gum |
Spouses |
|
Children | 2 |
Walter E. Diemer (January 8, 1904 – January 8, 1998) was an American accountant who, in 1928, invented bubble gum.
Life
This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2023) |
Born and raised in
Although an accountant by trade, Diemer liked to experiment with gum recipes in his spare time. In doing so, he accidentally stumbled upon a unique recipe. The gum was pink because it was the only food coloring in the factory, which is the reason most bubble gum today is pink.[1]
Compared to standard chewing gum, the gum was less sticky, would not stick to the face, and yet stretched more easily. Diemer saw the possibilities, and using a
Fleer began marketing the new gum as "Dubble Bubble" and Diemer himself taught salesmen how to blow bubbles as a selling point for the gum, helping them to demonstrate how Dubble Bubble differed from all other chewing gums. Sold at the price of one cent a piece, sales of Dubble Bubble surpassed US$1.5 million in the first year. However, Diemer did not patent his invention and competition soon arose as bubble gum became a popular and inexpensive treat during the Great Depression.
According to his second wife, Florence, Walter Diemer never received royalties for his invention but he did not mind. She also said he oversaw construction of bubble gum plants in Philadelphia and
Diemer died of
References
- ^ "Pennsylvania People, Walter E Diemer". Retrieved December 10, 2013.
- ^ Jeffery, Simon (May 26, 2004). "Chewing gum". Guardian. London. Retrieved September 17, 2009.
- New York Times
- ^ "Weekend Update with Colin Quinn - SNL Transcripts Tonight".