In an Etch a Sketch, the charged powder is attracted to the glass. The Etch a Sketch has a stylus mounted on a pair of orthogonal rods, one horizontal and the other vertical. The rods are each connected to a knob via steel wire. Observing this phenomenon inspired Cassagnes to create his own drawing toy using a plotter and aluminum powder. Cassagnes perfected his design and he soon won a prize in a French invention competition.
He later re-designed the toy to have two knobs. Eventually, Ohio Art—who is said to have also passed on the Etch A Sketch—reconsidered and acquired the invention.
A stylus is connected to a pulley system, which, in turn, is attached to the horizontal and vertical metal rods. These rods are affixed to two knobs. The inside surface of the glass screen is coated with aluminum powder that is mixed with tiny beads that aid the coating process.
When the knobs are turned, a stylus attached to two rails, one that moves horizontally and the other vertically, scrapes off the aluminum powder creating a black line. The line appears black simply because there is no light inside the Etch A Sketch. A curved line can be accomplished by moving both knobs at the same time. Because the line generated remains unbroken, elaborate designs must be well planned out in advance.
Rabie said his firm planned to continue production. This article is more than 5 years old. Etch A Sketch has been in continuous production in the US for half a century.
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