Etch A Sketch facts for kids
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| Type | Drawing toy |
|---|---|
| Inventor(s) | André Cassagnes |
| Company | Ohio Art Company (1960–2016) Spin Master (2016–present) |
| Country | France, but American-manufactured and Canadian-owned |
| Availability | 1960–present |
The Etch A Sketch is a fun mechanical drawing toy. It was invented by André Cassagnes from France. For many years, it was made by the Ohio Art Company. Now, a company called Spin Master in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, owns it.
This toy has a thick, flat gray screen inside a bright red plastic frame. You'll see two white knobs on the front, one in each lower corner. When you turn these knobs, a small tool inside, called a stylus, moves. This stylus scrapes away aluminium powder from the back of the screen. This scraping creates a dark line on the light gray screen, letting you draw!
How it Works
The Etch A Sketch works a bit like a special printer called a plotter. The glass screen inside is covered with a fine layer of aluminum powder. When you turn the knobs, a stylus moves across this powder. It scrapes off the powder, showing the dark space inside the toy. This is how you see the lines you draw.
One knob moves the stylus from side to side (horizontally). The other knob moves it up and down (vertically). If you turn both knobs at the same time, you can draw diagonal lines.
To make a new drawing, you simply turn the Etch A Sketch upside down. Then, you give it a good shake! This makes tiny polystyrene beads inside smooth out the screen. They re-coat the glass with aluminum powder, making the screen blank again. It's ready for your next masterpiece!
History and Fun Facts
The Etch A Sketch first came out on July 12, 1960. It quickly became very popular, especially with kids born during the "Baby Boom" time. In its first year, over 600,000 Etch A Sketches were sold!
This toy is so famous that it was added to the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998. This special hall is located at The Strong museum in Rochester, New York. In 2003, the Toy Industry Association also named the Etch A Sketch one of the most memorable toys of the 20th century. Over 100 million Etch A Sketches have been sold around the world!
Etch A Sketch Art
Some artists are so good at using the Etch A Sketch that they create amazing, detailed drawings. They use the toy to make professional "lineographic" art.
These artists can even make their drawings permanent! They do this by carefully removing the aluminum powder from inside the toy. They might drill small holes or take off the entire plastic back. After the powder is gone, they seal the toy again. This way, their art won't disappear if the Etch A Sketch is shaken.
Images for kids
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The Etch A Sketch Animator
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The Etch A Sketch Animator 2000
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A cartridge for an Etch A Sketch Animator 2000
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Etch A Sketch Color
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Etch A Sketch ETO
See also
In Spanish: Telesketch para niños
