Stringing Them Along

Leonard and Robert did.

Leonard and Robert were inventors … one of their more promising ideas was a foamable resinous composition that could be sprayed on a broken limb to make an instant cast … and it was good idea, worked well and was unique enough to receive a US patent.

Well they were testing different delivery mechanisms when there was a silly accident … and both Leonard and Robert realized that the foamable resinous composition might actually make a better toy … but knowing nothing about toys they went to Wham-O, a major product developer. During the meeting they sprayed their composition all over Wham-O manager … he was so upset he kicked out Leonard and Robert right there … and that was that … until the next day when a telegram arrived asking for 24 cans of the foamable composition … and Leonard and Robert had to be convinced someone wasn’t stringing them along as a practical joke … you see after they left, the manager cleaned up his office but missed a piece that had stuck to the lamp … when the Wham-Os owners came in to talk to the manager … they noticed the piece and asked him what it was … and manager explained the story … well Wham-Os owners immediately wanted some samples … hence the telegram order … and the rest is history.

Today, Leonard and Robert’s idea is a much loved and highly successful toy right around the world … a toy that even the military buys and uses to detect tripwires for bombs … Silly String.

Silly String is a great idea … because explosive results can happen if you seek out the right experts!