In the 1930’s, Noah McVicker developed a putty that could be used to clean coal residue from wallpaper. Following World War II, the market for his product dissipated as many homeowners transitioned from coal-based home heating to natural gas, resulting in a decrease in internal soot.

McVicker’s nephew re-positioned his failing product as a modeling compound for young children to use in arts and crafts projects. He called it Play-Doh.

By 2005, more than two billion cans of soot-cleaning putty had been sold.