Wrigley’s (1891) and Chiclets (1900) weren’t far behind Black Jack and soon the nation was totally on board with chewing gum. The first bubble gum was going to be named Blibber-blubber but proved far too sticky for customers in 1905. It wasn’t until 1928 that the bubble gum we know was concocted and named Dubble Bubble.
In 1889 the chewing gum locket was invented, a device for saving chewed gum. It didn’t catch on until the 1910s, a particular item for ladies who might need to quickly dispose of their gum as it was unseemly for women to chew gum at the time.
Gum As We Know It Today
Various kinds of chewing gum were included in soldiers’ rations during World War WII as it was thought to help the men stave off thirst, hunger, and stress. After WWII the process for creating chewing gum became almost entirely synthetic, with stabilizers, waxes, and petroleum-based elastomizers making up what had once been a plant-based product.
Chiclets included in 1943 Army mountain rations. Via/ Library of Congress
Whether your favorite gum was Bazooka, Wrigley’s or Teaberry there’s no denying the appeal of chewing gum. With more flavors today than ever before it doesn’t seem like our obsession for chewing gum will be going out of fashion any time soon!
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