subject: Chewing Gum History [print this page] Chewing Gum History Chewing Gum History
Archeological researches reveal that the chewing gum was common during the ancient times. The ancient Greeks are believed to chew a tree substance called "mastiche". The Maya Indians chewed a substance called "chicle" from the sapodilla tree. Other natural gums were coming from trees, grasses, and plants.
Modern Chewing Gum History begins in 19th century in USA. In 1848, John B. Curtis made the first chewing gum from spruce gum. He sold first chewing gum with name State of Maine Pure Spruce Gum. Within a couple of years, John Curtis and his brother began selling paraffin gum, which became more popular than original spruce gum. This was the first time in history when the chewing gum was sold commercially. In 1950, Curtis brothers founded "Curtis Chewing Gum Factory".
In 1869, Amos Tyler filed the first chewing gum patent. Amos Tyler made his chewing gum from rosin and olive oil.
1869, William Finley Semple patented a gum made from rubber which served as a tooth cleaner and jaw strengthener.
In the 1870's Thomas Adams made his own version of chewing gum out of chicle. The famous Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna have the brilliant idea to turn chicle into a gum base. He contacted the American inventor Thomas Adams. Adams patented many popular chewing gums and he also patented a gum making machine which later named the gumball machine.
In early 1880, the Fleer brothers experimented with chicle. Henry Fleer and Frank Fleer made cubes of the chicle and coated the cubes with sweet material. Fleer's chewing gum was named "Chiclets". Further they tried to make bubble gum but they never sold well because their bubble gum was too sticky. He called his invention Blibber-Blubber gum.
In 1880, William White combined sugar and corn syrup with chicle. He also added peppermint extract in chewing gum that was called Yucatan gum.
In 1899, a dentist Franklin V. Canning, developed a dental gum called "Dentyne."
In 1891 William Wrigley Jr founded "Wrigley Chewing Gum". In 1893 Wrigley's Spearmint was introduced which later became a best seller. In 1914 William Wrigley and Henry Fleer added mint and fruit extracts to chewing gum. In 1914 Wrigley Doublemint brand was introduced.
In 1928, Walter Diemer, an accountant for the Fleer gum company, accidentally discovered bubble gum. His bubble gum was called Double Bubble and this was first bubble gum which was not sticky. The originally color of his bubble gum was pink.
In 1950, The Topps Company first added baseball cards to the chewing gum. At that time sugar-free version of chewing gum was introduced.
Today there are many types of chewing gum. Many manufacturers provide customers option to choose softness level, sweetness level, flavors Today chewing gum can taste like mint, candy or fruit and comes in many shapes and colors.
Find out more about chewing gum history, bubble gum history and other interesting chewing gum facts on www.chewinggumfacts.com.
