Etch A Sketch, the famous red rectangular mechanical drawing game that had been owned by a small-town Ohio toymaker for more than 50 years, has been sold to a group in Toronto, the companies announced in separate statements Thursday.
Ohio Art, located in Bryan, Ohio, near Toledo, announced it had sold the Etch A Sketch brand and its companion Doodle Sketch to Spin Master Corp., a global children's
entertainment company, according to a statement.
The Etch A Sketch was inducted into the National
Toy Hall of Fame in 1998, according to the National Museum of Play website. Ohio Art reportedly paid $25,000 to license the toy created by French electrical technician André Cassagnes, and it burst onto the toy scene in 1960, changing little since.
"We are very happy that children around the world will continue to be able to enjoy Etch A Sketch, one of the world's most iconic toys, as Spin Master is committed to building upon the success that The Ohio Art Company has created and sustained for more than 50 years," Ohio Art's chief executive Elena West said in a statement.
Spin Master creates, designs, manufactures, and markets a wide variety of toys, games, products, and entertainment properties. The company is known for brands including Bakugan, Air Hogs, Spin Master Games, and the
Zoomer Dino, according to the company's website.
"We are always open to exploring new relationships and part of our success is seeing potential that others might overlook," Ben Gadbois, global president of Spin Master, said in a release. "Etch A Sketch and Doodle Sketch have a long and trusted history with consumers and we're proud to add them to our portfolio. This acquisition allows us to create an arts and crafts super-category by developing and distributing new products under both brands."
Ohio Art said the sale will allow the Midwest company to concentrate on its metal lithography business and spend money on its manufacturing operations in Bryan. Ohio Art has done lithography at its facility since 1912, according to its statement.
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