Story Behind Inventors and Inventions Rubber Bands

About the origins, history and story behind the scenes of the inventor and invention of the rubber band.

Extraordinary Stories behind Ordinary Objects That Had to Be Invented by Someone

Invention: Rubber band

Inventor: Thomas Hancock, England

Year: 1820

How Invented: Milk juice from the rubber tree had for centuries been used by the Central and South American Indians to make garments. They even made rubber bottles. One day, around 1820, Thomas Hancock of London held one of the bottles in his hand and realized that if sliced up it could be inserted into garters and waistbands. About 25 years later, another Englishman, Stephen Perry, patented the rubber band.