Far-flung toy shop marks 50 years of Etch A Sketch

IN France it was called L'Ecran Magique, the Magic Screen, and in the UK it was referred to as the DoodleMaster. But for generations most children have grown up calling it Etch A Sketch.

One of the most successful ever toys is marking its 50th anniversary this year and a far flung part of Scotland is playing an important role.

The Glendale Toy Museum, seven miles from Dunvegan in Skye, is the first organisation in the UK to sign up to take part in a nationwide competition to celebrate the golden anniversary.

In conjunction with the toy company Flair, the contest aims to find the best artistic works using the iconic plaything.

As well as having their artwork exhibited online, the competitors have the chance to win one of five special edition bronze Etch A Sketch screens.

The Glendale attraction, known as Europe's remotest toy museum, fills just two rooms of a converted house but attracts about 5,000 visitors a year.

Owner Terry Wilding said: "We are a bit remote so its nice to be included. Hopefully we will get one of the toys to keep for displaying."

The competition will run between 9-23 October. A spokeswoman for organisers Flair said: "The Skye museum has decided it will be a good activity to have during the school holidays and we hope others will follow."

Etch a Sketch was invented in the 1950s by Andre Cassagnes, a French electrician, and was originally called Telecran. Without the money for a patent, he took a loan from an investor who had one of his employees, Arthur Granjean, apply for a patent.

In 1959 the toy was exhibited at a toy fair in Nuremberg where the Ohio Art Co bought the rights for just $25,000.

The following year Etch A Sketch went into production and became the No. 1 selling toy that Christmas.