Who Invented Plasticine?
Plasticine was invented by an artist from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, William Harbutt. He trained at the South Kensington School of Art and moved to Bath to become headmaster of the Bath School of Art. After disagreeing with the governors he founded his own school their and was also art teacher in most of the local schools in a private capacity. He found the usual modelling clay to heavy and messy for most pupils to use so he set about producing a new substance in the basement of his house. With the help of an old soldier he rolled the substance out in the basement. It was given to all his family to play with and he realised that what was at first intended as a teaching aid had a greater application as a creative toy for children. At first Plasticine was just grey but Harbutt continued development and produced red, blue and yellow which was sold in a pack as The Complete Modeller. Demand grew and in 1900 production began in an old flour mill in Bathampton, Bath. In 1912 a limited company was
