-
First wooden model of Rubiks cube created this year by Erno Rubik with the help of his friends.
-
In 1975, Rubik made an arrangement with the Hungarian toy-manufacturer Politechnika for them to mass produce the plastic cube rather than the wooden cube to make it more fashionable and keep up with the technology of the era and in America. In 1977, the multi-colored cube first appeared in toy stores in Budapest as the Büvös Kocka (the "Magic Cube"). Although the Magic Cube was a success in Hungary, it needed a new look in America.
-
By 1979, Hungary agreed to share the cube and Rubik signed with the Ideal Toy Corporation. As Ideal Toys prepared to market the Magic Cube to the West, they decided to rename the cube. After considering several names, they settled on calling the toy puzzle "Rubik's Cube." The first Rubik's Cubes appeared in Western stores in 1980.
-
Rubik's Cubes instantaneously became an international sensation. Everyone wanted one. It appealed to youngsters as well as adults. There was something obsessive about the little cube. Consumer demand is at its peak.
-
Starting in 1982, the first annual International Rubik's Championships were held in Budapest, where people competed to see who could solve the Rubik's Cube the fastest. These competitions are places for "cubers" to show off their "speed cubing." The current world record is 8.72 seconds, held by Yu Nakajima of Japan.
-
By 1982, more than 100 million Rubik's Cubes had been sold and most had yet to be solved.
-
Whether a Rubik's Cube fan was a self-solver, speed cuber, or a smasher, they had all become obsessed with the small, simple-looking puzzle. During the height of its popularity, Rubik's Cubes could be found everywhere -- at school, on buses, in movie theaters, and even at work. The design and colors of Rubik's Cubes also appeared on t-shirts, posters, and board games. In 1983, Rubik's Cube even had its own television show, called Rubik, the Amazing Cube.
-
From 1983 all the way to current day, Rubik's Cube has remained in its maturity Phase and contrinues to level out sales.
-
To date, more than 300 million Rubik's Cubes have been sold, making it one of the most popular toys of the 20th century.
-
As technology grows the rubik's cube will become unecessary to buy and consumers will be able to simply play it online and the company's sales will decline.
