The History of Gum, part 2 of 3
1899: The American Chicle Company
The leading gum manufacturers organized themselves into the American Chicle Company. William White became president and Thomas Adams Jr. was chairman of the board of directors. Other gum makers in the organization included Beeman, Primley, S.T. Britten and Frank Fleer. Company headquarters are located on 44th Street in New York City.
Adams Jr. started on his regular trip through the West with about 25 boxes of the gum. He did not succeed in selling a single box to the drug trade. Before his next trip, Adams said that even if he did not find buyers for the gum, he wouldn't bring it home. He would give it to the druggists if they would promise to display it on their counters. This time he succeeded, and left on consignment all the boxes of gum that he took out. Before his return home, reorders for more than 300 boxes of chewing gum were coming in to his father in New York. Encouraged by sales, Adams Jr. quit his tailor job and rented a New Jersey warehouse to house his gum business. About 25 girls were hired to wrap the gum, and new brands were introduced, including Adams No. 2, which came wrapped in a larger package.
Also douring this year, a New York drug store manager invents Dentyne®. The name is derived from the words "dental" and "hygiene."
1905
Thomas Adams, Sr., 87, dies of pneumonia in his Brooklyn home.
1906: Chicklets® Launched
Chiclets launched as the first candy-coated pellet gum.
1914: Clove® Debuts
Adams introduces Clove gum, which becomes popular in speakeasies during prohibition to mask alcohol on the breath.
Chiclets joins the American Chicle family.
1916
American Chicle acquires Dentyne from the Sterling Gum Company.
1926
Thomas Adams, Jr. dies, leaving a fortune of more than $2 million.
1939-1945
During World War II, American soldiers spread the popularity of chewing gum throughout the world.
1951
Clorets®, the first heavy-duty breath freshening gum, is introduced.
1962: Trident® Launches
Tooth decay awareness in the 1950s spurs research on sugarless gum. After nine years in development, Trident Original launches as the first sugar-free product and the first product marketed as one that wouldn't cause tooth decay. Today, Trident continues to pioneer the sugar-free gum market throughout the world.
1962
The American Chicle Company is acquired by Warner-Lambert and grows rapidly with access to new markets. The company continues to develop innovative, functional products.
1962
Tiny-size Chiclets® are introduced.
1964: Trident Goes National
Trident sugar-free gum goes on sale nationally throughout the U.S. on June 1. It is billed as "The great taste that's good for your teeth." Trident is selected as the official chewing gum for the Gemini Space missions and becomes the first gum chewed in space.
1965: Adams® Sour Debuts
Adams Sour fruit-flavored gum debuts in apple, cherry and orange flavors.
1966
Trident launches spearmint and fruit flavors to add to the Original flavor.
1969
Cinnamon Trident is introduced.
