The Public Paperfolding History Project

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Last updated 20/2/2024

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The Sugar Tongs
 
This page is being used to collect information about the history of the simple active play paperfold known as the Sugar Tongs. Please contact me if you know any of this information is incorrect or if you have any other information that should be added. Thank you.

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1932

As far as I know this design first appears in 'Winter Nights Entertainments' by R M Abraham, which was first published by Constable and Constable in London in 1932.

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1949

The design also appears, as 'Cardboard Snapper', in Hugard's Magic Monthly for September 1949, in an article written by Martin Gardner titled 'Stunts with Paper'.

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1960

A version of the design with a few more creases but relying onthe exact same mechanism appears as 'The Thing' in 'Paper Folding Fun' by Robert Harbin, which was published by Oldbourne in London in 1960, where it is presented as a challenge, 'Offer the card to anybody and invite them to fold it up completely, only using a thumb and forefinger, and without letting go. They will find this quite impossible to do.'

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1963

As 'Mechanical Grab' in 'Party Lines' by Robert Harbin was published by the Olbourne Book Co in London in 1963.

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