Early Life and Interest in Innovation

Walter Diemer is an American inventor and businessman who was best known for inventing the first commercially successful bubble gum. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1904. He developed an early interest in machinery and chemistry.

Career at the Fleer Chewing Gum Company

Walter Diemer started his career as an accountant at the Fleer Chewing Gum Company, which was a candy company trying to produce a chewable gum that could be blown into bubbles. However, the company’s founder, Frank Fleer, had failed to create a satisfactory gum and had abandoned the project altogether. Diemer, who had access to the company’s laboratory, began experimenting with gum recipes in his free time.

The Invention of Bubble Gum

It was during one of his experiments that he created the first batch of bubble gum, which turned out to be stretchier and less sticky than previous formulas, making it perfect for blowing bubbles. The color of the gum was initially pink, but over time he experimented by using latex as the base ingredient and added various flavorings and colors.

Introduction of “Double Bubble”

The Fleer company took over the gum recipe and named it “Double Bubble” and persuaded the Fleer president to test market it. They packaged it in yellow wrappers and sold it for a penny a piece. The gum became an instant hit with both children and adults and soon became the most popular candy in the United States. Diemer also taught salespeople how to blow bubbles with the gum to promote it.

Competition and the Growth of the Bubble Gum Market

For many years, Double Bubble remained without any competition. However, after World War II, other companies began producing their own bubble gum, which led to oversaturation in the bubble gum market. Bubble gum quickly gained a lot of popularity among the young customer base, and the entire market grew to more than $1.2 billion annually. It was estimated that children alone were chewing about 150,000 pounds of bubble gum per day. The initial pink coloring used in Diemer’s product became synonymous with bubble gum.

Legacy of Walter Diemer

Walter Diemer’s invention had a lasting impact on the bubble gum industry and became a staple in candy stores, supermarkets, and vending machines across the world. Diemer did not patent his invention or receive any royalties from it. He remained loyal to Fleer and continued to work there as a senior vice president until his retirement in 1970. He passed away in 1998 at the age of 94.