Oak River Rubber Company of Ravenna, Ohio's claim to fame (1917-1993).

Besides making several rubber products they were the worlds largest maker of toy balloons in the 1930's, 40's, and 50's. At one time the company employed more than 350 people and produced 150,000 balloons per day, retailing for a penny to 25 cents. Red was the most popular color. The photo presented here shows theír 48 page 1938 catalogue which features Disney characters applied to balloons. Those who worked in the printing department knew that balloons had to be jnflated prior to printing on them. The work went pretty fast and if your mind wandered, balloons would occasionally blow up. The variety includes size, shape. color, prints applied, sound or noise squawkers and toss ups with cardboard feet and head for most of Disney's major characters. My favorite is the Mickey Mouse Stratosphere balloon with cardboard basket. If any ex-employees or their relatives can obtain for me a basket or any item related to the Disney balloons I WOULD BE ESTATIC. A further history and display of these balloons can be found in TOMART'S History of DISNEYANA Merchandise - 1930's. pp.108-109. Of course you can find the companies advertisement in the 1935-36 Disney merchandise catalogue.