Some products need time to find their true calling.

Surprisingly, this is true even for some of the biggest brands in the world.

And no, I'm not talking about those cookie tins that everyone's mom seems to store sewing kits in.

I'm talking about those products that seem to have been the same forever.

From bubble wrap to seven up, prepare to be surprised as we explore some everyday products

originally intended for very different purposes.

You're listening.

You're listening to be amazed.

In World War II, the Axis powers invaded most of the countries that sourced America's rubber.

This left the USA with a shortage of tires, gas masks, boots, and ducks to play with in the bathtub.

To counteract this, the U.S. government started researching synthetic rubber compounds. By combining boric acid with silicone oil, researchers created something that bounced like rubber,

but had an annoying tendency to melt into a puddle when not used.

Needless to say, this was useless as a rubber substitute.

After all, you can't drive a car with melting tires into battle. But its inventors foresaw a different

purpose. Their vision was shared by the owner of the first toy store to stock it, as well as

marketer Peter Hynchson, who gave the substance its name, Sellypuddy. Through the 40s and 50s,

the substance bounced and stretched its way into the children's toy we all know today,

making Hodgson a millionaire along the way. It even found its way on board the Apollo 8 space

mission, where it kept astronauts entertained and prevented tools from floating around in the cabin.

It's up for debate as to who the original inventor of Silly Puddy was, but within four years of each other,

both Earl Warwick and James Wright had filed patents for a very similar product. Though the case was

never closed, there's only one way to settle such a dispute.

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