George Lerner
Born1922
Brooklyn, New York, United States
Died1995 (aged 72-73)
United States
Occupation(s)Artist
graphic designer
model maker
businessman

George Lerner (1922–1995) was an American inventor known for inventing the toy Mr. Potato Head.[1]

Biography

Lerner was born in Brooklyn, New York and worked during his lifetime as an artist, graphic designer, and model maker.[2] In 1949, he designed and produced a first generation set of plastic face pieces. The push pin shaped noses, ears, eyes, and mouth parts could be pushed into fruits or vegetables to transform the food into playmates.[3] The toy did not take off at first because post-World War II consumers didn't like the idea of wasting food by playing with it.[4] Lerner finally sold the toy for $5,000 to a cereal company. The toys were planned to be a premium giveaway in cereal boxes. But when Lerner found a better deal offered by toy manufacturer Hassenfeld Brothers (now Hasbro), Lerner and the manufacturer bought the rights back for $7,000.[5] Hasbro officially named the toy Mr. Potato Head.[6]

In 1964 and 1975, George Lerner's original designs got their plastic head and size upgrades respectively, in order to comply with government issued safety regulations.[7]

Lerner died in 1995.

Personal life

Lerner was Jewish, and was of Romanian-Jewish descent.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ "Jews of the Week: George Lerner & The Hassenfeld Brothers | Jew of the Week". 22 February 2012. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
  2. ↑ "The Toy Invented by George Lerner | Synonym". Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  3. ↑ Floss, By Megan Wilde, Mental. "Evolution of Mr. Potato Head". Retrieved 2018-08-14.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ "The Toy Invented by George Lerner | Synonym". Retrieved 2018-08-14.
  5. ↑ "Jews of the Week: George Lerner & The Hassenfeld Brother". 22 February 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  6. ↑ Floss, By Megan Wilde, Mental. "Evolution of Mr. Potato Head". Retrieved 2018-08-14.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ "GEORGE LERNER AND MR. POTATO HEAD". 21 July 2015. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "The Story of Mr. Potato Head’s Jewish Roots." Artsy, Avishay. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. www.jta.org. Published December 14, 2017. Accessed February 28, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Jews of the Week: George Lerner & The Hassenfeld Brother". 22 February 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-07.


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