Stuff You Should Know SYSK's 12 Days of Christmas… Toys: Etch A Sketch!
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Dec 12, 2025 Explore the fascinating origins of the Etch A Sketch, born from a happy accident in France. Discover the clever mechanics behind this classic toy and its enduring popularity. Hear about the marketing boom from Ohio Art and how it became a holiday staple in the 1960s. Dive into the toy's cultural impact, with over 175 million sold, and the amusing failings of digital successors. Plus, meet talented Etch A artists and learn about their techniques for preserving their masterpieces.
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French Origins Of An American Icon
- The Etch A Sketch feels like pure Americana but it was invented in France by André Cassagnes.
- That origin reframes the toy's history and explains the French name "La Croix Magique."
Factory Spark That Inspired The Toy
- André Cassagnes discovered the effect while peeling a decal dusted with metal shavings in a factory.
- He saw the disturbed metal powder reveal lines and imagined a redrawable screen toy.
How Removal-of-Dust Drawing Works
- The device uses aluminum powder electrostatically attracted to glass and a stylus that removes powder to draw.
- Shaking redistributes the powder, erasing the image and resetting the screen.