History, facts about gum to chew Neolithic Period, Greece, to Present
69
Apparently humans have had a tendency to want to chew on something like gum for a long time seemingly as far back as the Neolithic Period. Chewing gum with teeth imprints dating back 5000 years has been found that was made of Bircth bark tar and found in Kierikki, Yli-li, Finland. It is thought that the bark tar the gum was made of had antiseptic qualities and other medicinal values. The Aztecs, as a base for making a gum-like substance, used Chicle.
Back in my grade school and high school days the greatest offense seemed to be chewing gum in class. I’m not sure what the real objection was, but I understand that there are some places where gum chewing is discouraged now because of the tendency to put the used gum under tables, chairs, theater seats, and on floors.
I remember chewing gum songs on the radio When I was a kid. One was "Does The Spearmint Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?” a song first released in 1924 by the happiness Boys.
"Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On the Bedpost Overnight?)" by Lonnie Donegan in 1961.
Another was something like
Chew, chew chew
Chewing gum
How I love Chewing gum
Some History
The Ancient Greeks chewed resin from the mastic tree. The Maya chewed Chicle from the sapodilla. American Indians chewed Spruce sap mixed with beeswax.
Thomas Adams learned about Central American Chicle from Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Adams tried to market the Chicle for tire making then realized that if it were flavored it would make a long lasting chewing gum. Thus Adams made New York chewing gum and introduced it in January 1871 selling for a penny a stick. Eventually Adams and six other firms merged to become “Chiclets” in 1899.
The New England settlers first got chewing gum from the American Indians and in 1848 John B. Curtis developed and sold the first commercial chewing gum. He called it “The state of Maine Pure Spruce gum.” Later a paraffin gum was developed and became more popular. William Semple filed an early patent on chewing gum December 28, 1869.
Gum made from Chicle and other latexes had a smoother, softer texture and flavor and lasted longer. Due to lower cost and availability most chewing gum companies switched to using synthetic gum bases. Glee Gum claims to be the only company still using all natural Chicle.
More Uncommon Histories
- Piggy banks:saving money or odd coins
As collectors items or just plain cuteness piggy banks are popular. they are a tool to teach thrift to children they have an unusual history. - 15 months ago
- Bricks Used as material for Masonry, Building, Paving, Decorartion
Whether it is paving bricks, masonry,building a new home, bricks are one of the most common building and paving ingredients.Bricks are components of many things from homes to streets, although brick streets are not so common now.Bricks date back over seven thousand years. - 15 months ago
- The Odd and Uncommon Histories of Commercial Ice
In the beginning years of college, I worked in a small grocery store with a gentleman that had been a produce department staff person and then a manager in the first Kroger grocery store in my city. The small brick building still serves as a... - 15 months ago
- Slinky Toys based On Physics Principles:Gravity and Inertia and spiral
Slinkys are based on physics and were a unique toy when first introduced.They are a spring like device that will "walk" down a flight of stairs. they are fun to watch and very simple. - 15 months ago
- Uncommon Histories of Common Things- Post It Notes, M&Ms, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Paper Clips and Much More
Learn interesting and uncommon histories of common things like Post It notes, sock monkeys, M&Ms, Twinkies, Barbie, Tupperware, popcorn, chewing gum, toothbrushes, coffee, zippers, lipstick, slinky, toilet paper, mirrors, piggy banks, umbrellas, pillows, and Coca Cola bottles. - 15 months ago
- Were Flash-Frozen Vegetables Invented or Discovered?
All about flash-frozen fish to flash-frozen vegetables. Clarence Birdseye sold the patent for the flash-freeze method he developed for $22 million. Do you know the story? - 15 months ago
- History of Chocolate Chip Cookies
In 1930, dietician Ruth Wakefield and her husband, Kenneth, purchased a house in Whitman, Massachusetts that had previously served as a stop during Colonial times for travelers to pay their road toll between Boston and New Bedford. The Wakefields... - 15 months ago
- The Soaring History of Kites
There was a boy who lived in the street next to us where I grew up and he was a kite flyer. He was a good flyer and he participated in kite fights. He handmade his own kites and I used to go and watch him. He would use thin bamboo sticks for the spars and used silk or thin paper for the material. His kites were usually brightly coloured and had dramatic tail designs.where Kites really come from and who first had this thought of sending these tethered aircrafts into the air and controlling them f - 15 months ago
 | Amazon Price: $14.18 List Price: $23.92 |
 | Amazon Price: $7.64 List Price: $14.28 |
 | Amazon Price: $8.23 List Price: $14.28 |
 | Amazon Price: $14.95 List Price: $46.80 |
 | Amazon Price: $19.98 List Price: $30.96 |
 | Amazon Price: $15.63 List Price: $21.80 |
 | Amazon Price: $8.70 List Price: $14.28 |
 | Amazon Price: $0.01 |
Many Kinds of Chewing Gum
You can get gum in many shapes, forms and flavors. A favorite with kids is Gumballs, they are round like a little ball and coated. Often gumballs are sold in dispensing machines. They are often called “screwballs in the United Kingdom since they are often at the bottom of a “Screwball ice cream treat.”
· Another favorite with kids is bubblegum
· Sugar free gum made with various artificial sweeteners.
· Candy & gum combinations, usually bubblegum at the center of a lollipop
· Center filled gum
· Cut & wrap gum the name of a machine that wraps the gum, usually in a chunk, cube, or cylindrical shape.
· Pellet gum- pillow shaped and coated and sold usually in blister packs.
· Functional gum- used as a delivery system or other practical function.
· Medicated gum-used as delivery system for medicines.
· Powdered gum- free flowing powder compressed into shapes.
· Stick gum-rectangular, thin, flat, slab of gum.
· Ribbon gum or tape gum-like stick gum but longer and coiled up.
· Tube gum or spaghetti gum- soft gum that can be squeezed from a tube.
Note: list adapted from Wikipedia article.
Chewing gum in the armed services
Since World War I, the United States armed services have supplied personnel with chewing gum because it helps improve concentration and relieve stress. The U.S. military is involved in development of a chewing gum with an anti- bacterial agent that would help with oral hygiene on the battlefields.
A cafinated gum has been supplied to troops to help with alertness.
The New Zealand Defense force has a recaldent gum for their service personnel.
Health
Sugar free gum using xylitol-sweetening agent has had some success in reducing cavities and plaque. Orbital has similar benefits but only about a third as effective. Some studies indicate that it is the chewing activity that has the beneficial effect.
Please Leave Comments
I would appreciate hearing opinions about my articles. Please leave comments and vote .
CommentsLoading...
The song by the Happiness boys was "Does your Spearmint lose it's flavor... it was recorded in 1924.It was changed in later versions,notably Lonnie Donnagon to chewing gum because of a British copyright on the word spearmint.The record shown was "chewin chewing gum recorded by Stringbean.
Thanks for commenting.
Thank you dahoglund, for a very informative and interesting hub. Godspeed. creativeone59
Thank you for reading and commenting on it.
Oh yes, chewing gum in school was the ultimate horror - which is probably why we had to buy it and find ways to chew it - but the teachers could always tell.
By the way I had no idea there was an earlier version of the chewing gum song.
And yes, it's synthetic now - how awful. I suppose it is just good we do not swallow the stuff. When I lived in S. Korea I was able to get some really good natural gum. Delightful. For those of us who were kind of wild we would buy the coffee gum - quite good!
Thanks for an enjoyable read. Rated up.
Thanks for the comment.Actually I didn't know that there were later versions of the song.
When I was growing up, chewing gum in school got you detention. But, when I was in third grade, about 8 years old, my teacher brought honey in combs to class and taught us about bees. We got to chew the honey with the wax, an experience most kids will never have. Bless that teacher who let us chew "gum" as a learning experience. She brought us right back to neolithic times.
Super info on the history of chewing gum.
Thanks your for the comment. I don't know if you can still buy honey in the comb but I remember I used to.
I can't believe I just read an entire hub on chewing gum and enjoyed it. Dahoglund you made this hub interesting enough to hold our interest, very good. Thumbs Up!
I am glad I was able to hold your interest. Thanks for the comment.
When I was a kid in Georgia we use to chew rosin from pine trees. Not nearly as tasty as Wriggleys!
Probably not.Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.
how many tons of chewing gum are left under theater seats?
Thanks for commenting ron! Maybe that gum under the seats could be recycled to make tires for cars.
WillStarr Level 8 Commenter 15 months ago
When we moved in to our new-old house in Iowa years ago, I found some very old records in the attic. They were so old that they had a recording on one side only!
One of the songs was "Does your chewing gum lose its flavor..".
I imagine that was the one recorded by the "Happiness Boys".