Ohio Art ad pays tribute to late French inventor with unique advertisement

Ohio Art produced this advertisement to honor the late Andre Cassagnes, the inventor of the Etch A Sketch. Mr. Cassagnes died in Paris on Jan. 16 at the age of 86.

BRYAN, Ohio — Ohio Art Co. has created a heartfelt advertisement to honor the late Andre Cassagnes, the 86-year-old French inventor of the famed Etch A Sketch toy who died in Paris on Jan. 16.

The ad shows an upside down Etch A Sketch with a frown on its screen. Below the toy is an epitaph that states: Andre Cassagnes, Inventor of the Etch A Sketch, 1926-2013.

Mr. Cassagnes, an electrician, invented the drawing toy in 1955. Ohio Art executives saw it in 1960 at a toy fair in Nuremberg, Germany. The company bought the rights and has produced the toy ever since.

Ohio Art Chairman William Killgallon said company officials learned of Mr. Cassagnes’ death in January, and issued a statement concerning his passing at a toy fair in Germany.

Mr. Killgallon, who is attending a toy show in New York, said earlier this week that the company was considering honoring Mr. Cassagnes further.

“What we did previously was on the 50th anniversary of Etch A Sketch, we had used Andre’s signature on the 50th anniversary model,” Mr. Killgallon said.

“When we sold that, they all had his signature on them.

“His invention has been very good to Bryan, Ohio, the Ohio Art Co., and the world,” Mr. Killgallon said. “His device has delighted millions and millions of children.”