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Invention
In 1770 English engineer Edward Nairne was reported to have developed the first widely marketed rubber eraser, for an inventions competition. Until that time the material was known as gum elastic. According to Edward, he inadvertently picked up a piece of rubber instead of breadcrumbs, discovered rubber's erasing properties, and began selling rubber erasers. -
Use
An eraser is used for removing writing from paper. Erasers have a rubbery consistency and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. -
Pencil with an eraser
On 30th March 1858, Hymen Lipman of Philadelphia, USA, attached an eraser to the end of a pencil. And today this is used a lot.
