Q 01/05

Walter Diemer, who invented the first successful bubble gum in 1928, had what job at the Fleer company?

A) Chemist

B) Accountant

C) Salesman

D) Factory foreman

Answer · why

B) Accountant

He was tinkering with recipes as a hobby; Fleer's president named the result Dubble Bubble.

Q 02/05

Why is bubble gum traditionally pink?

A) Fleer's logo was pink

B) Pink hides tooth marks

C) It was made from red chicle

D) Red was the only dye Diemer had on hand

Answer · why

D) Red was the only dye Diemer had on hand

His recipe came out a dingy grey, so he diluted red dye to pink.

Q 03/05

Frank Fleer's earlier 1906 attempt at bubble gum, shelved for being too sticky, was called what?

A) Stretchy Stuff

B) Bubble Blob

C) Blibber-Blubber

D) Pop-a-Lot

Answer · why

C) Blibber-Blubber

Diemer used its formula as his starting point two decades later.

Q 04/05

Chewing gum made from birch bark tar, complete with tooth marks, found in Finland dates back roughly how far?

A) 5,000 years

B) 500 years

C) 50,000 years

D) 1,000 years

Answer · why

A) 5,000 years

Birch tar and mastic both have antiseptic properties and were probably chewed for oral health.

Q 05/05

Which peoples were the first to exploit chicle, a natural tree gum, as a chewing gum base?

A) The Romans

B) The Maya and Aztecs

C) The Vikings

D) The Egyptians

Answer · why

B) The Maya and Aztecs

The word Chiclets comes from the Nahuatl tzictli, meaning 'sticky stuff'.