Easy Bake Oven
The Easy-Bake Oven, currently a product of Hasbro, is a working toy oven that for many years used an ordinary light bulb as a heat source, but now has a true heating element. Eleven versions of the Easy-Bake Oven have been sold. It comes with packets of pastry mix and small round pans. (Additional mixes can be purchased separately.) After water is added to the mix in the pan, it is pushed into the oven through a slot. After cooking, the cake is pushed out through a slot in the other end.
The Easy-Bake Oven was introduced in 1963 by Kenner Products, a Cincinnati, Ohio, based toy company. The early models were designed to look like miniature conventional ovens. Later models were designed to look like microwave ovens. The current model looks more like a modern floor-standing oven.
The toy was the invention of Ronald Howes, who conceived of the design, built the first model, and sold the rights to the company. Mr. Howes also had a hand in either inventing or refining many other classic Kenner toys such as Play-Doh, Spirograph, Give-a-Show Projector, and Close-and-Play Record Player.
Generations of girls have spent many happy hours mixing, baking, and eating their creations thanks to this classic toy.