“Mold-A-Rama: Molded for the Future,” Museum of Science and Industry
The smell of plastic gets stronger as you’re approaching—it almost pulls you to it, like a cartoon where Mickey Mouse is physically lifted off the ground and floats toward the source of a delicious smell. They say scent, emotion and memory are intertwined. That’s the case of the Mold-A-Rama: Molded for the Futureexhibition now on view at the Museum of Science and Industry(MSI.)
“Mold-A-Rama: Molded for the Future,” Museum of Science and Industry
Amid plastic fumes and colorful figurines that come out of retro-looking machines that resemble a jukebox or an arcade game, a walk down memory lane is going to happen. Mold-A-Rama has been around since the 1940s, when American inventor J.H. “Tike” Miller conceived a freestanding plastic-molding machine—a sort of 3D printer of its time. John Llewellyn, MSI senior exhibit strategist, describes it as a vending machine that allows people to see a plastic souvenir made in front of their eyes. “It’s an injection-molding machine under a clear bubble, so you can see the parts of it in action,” he says.
“Mold-A-Rama: Molded for the Future,” Museum of Science and Industry
“It all started when Miller, an Illinois-based serial entrepreneur, was faced with a problem: he wanted to replace a missing piece of his nativity set, but couldn’t buy the right one. So, he started creating plaster figurines in his basement to sell in department stores,” Llewellyn says. “During World War II, the U.S. banned plaster imports from Germany. Miller started making his figurines with plastic. Based on this experience, he came up with the idea for the Mold-A-Rama. After hiring the Lyon Corporation of Chicago to build the machines, Miller operated machines all over the country, eventually licensing the rights to Automatic Retailers of America (ARA). Mold-A-Rama made its debut at the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle and the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. Fairgoers savored the warm smell of molten plastic as a memory-making sensation.”
“Mold-A-Rama: Molded for the Future,” Museum of Science and Industry
The last one may have been built in the 1960s but fast-forward to today, and Mold-A-Rama, based in Brookfield, showcases sixty-three machines, the majority of which are located in Illinois (twenty-six), followed by Wisconsin (fifteen), Michigan (ten), Texas (eight) and Minnesota (four). “It strikes a Midwestern chord to have a combination of hot metal, melted plastic, chemical fumes and amusement all in close proximity,” says Llewellyn. Beginning in 1967, MSI has featured one-of-a-kind souvenirs. The very first one was a bust of President Abraham Lincoln in the Union Carbide Hall of Elements that one can watch being molded. Alongside it, several figurines have made a comeback as part of the exhibition—from the most iconic to the rarest collectibles. Take the Cross-Faded Chicks for example, which came to be by mere happenstance: when machine owners wanted to change the color of a souvenir, it would take a while for the new color to work its way through the machine. The result: changing a red baby chick to a yellow one would yield figurines with tints of orange in between. These cross-faded chicks ended up being extremely desirable to collectors.
“Mold-A-Rama: Molded for the Future,” Museum of Science and Industry
Elsewhere, dinosaurs, tractors and planes sit next to models of the Eiffel Tower and the Talman Bank Building. Llewellyn picks the Toledo Mud Hens minor league baseball mascot as a personal favorite. Bright red, yellow and orange figurines contrast with crisp white and deep blue ones. My favorite—the one I decided to take home—was the MSI Space Robot. (As a side note, I learned that the term “robot” was first popularized by Czech author Karel Capek in his 1920 play, “R.U.R.,” or “Rossumovi Univerzálni Roboti,” translated as “Rossum’s Universal Robots.”) As polyethylene pellets melt at 225 degrees Fahrenheit, I watch the silvery-gray liquid squeezed into the mold by means of a hydraulic pump until it fills its shape. In the background, cold water is constantly flowing to quickly cool the layer of liquid plastic. The robot, consisting of two equal halves, is glued together. Compressed air pushes the material out of the mold leaving its insides hollow. Seconds later, the newly formed statuette pops out through the dispenser slot, still hot to the touch. I immediately bring it up to my nose—the smell is weirdly satisfying.
“Mold-A-Rama: Molded for the Future,” Museum of Science and Industry
“Molded plastic is cheap and fantastic. Most anyone can afford it, and it’s an experience to see the machine work,” says Llewellyn. In over sixty years, Mold-A-Rama machines have pumped out hundreds of collectible Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) novelties, at $3 to $5, providing guests a peek into mass production. Technology meets design and visual art as the instant figurines, some of which have reached cult level, come to life. “Gathering four Mold-A-Rama machines in one place has been in the works at MSI since 2005, but now the stars have finally aligned,” adds Llewellyn. “We did it. The Plastic Age is upon us!”
“Mold-A-Rama: Molded for the Future,” Museum of Science and Industry/Photo: Vasia Rigou
More than leaving a nostalgic feeling, the “Mold-A-Rama: Molded for the Future” exhibition is meant to provide insight into how the industry works, plastics and the ways they have transformed our everyday life, as well as their climate impact, advantages and disadvantages. “We use nostalgia to get people in the door, but we’re really talking about the future,” says Llewellyn. “How can we get folks to think about the plastic in their lives? Where does it come from? How is it designed and made? Where does it go when we’re done with it? Critical thinking is the goal, but we like to pave the way to that consciousness with colorful fun times.”
Greek-born Vasia Rigou is a journalist, editor and multimedia content producer largely on the subjects of visual art, culture, architecture and design. She currently serves as an Editor at Newcity, Chicago’s leading culture publication, as Writer and Copy Editor at the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) HQ, and regularly contributes to international architecture and design magazines OnOffice and ICON. She has experience creating content for brands and building conference speeches and influential TEDx talks. Simply put: she’s fascinated by finding out the great stories behind the people, places and objects that surround us, and by sharing those stories with the world. When she’s not writing about art or looking at art—wine in hand—she makes lists for pretty much everything, drinks immense amounts of coffee and takes cross-country road trips every chance she gets.
