Editing Drinking straw (section)

=== Mass production ===
Plastic straws became widespread following [[World War II]]. The materials used in their manufacture were inexpensive, and the types of restaurant fare that they accompanied had become more affordable and popular.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5336242/plastic-straws-history/|title=The Backlash Against Plastic Straws Is Spreading. Here's How They Got So Popular in the First Place|magazine=Time|language=en|access-date=3 December 2018}}</ref>

In 1930, Otto W. Dieffenbach Sr. developed and produced a cellophane drinking straw in Baltimore. His company known as Glassips Inc., produced straws for restaurants and other products. One [https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/aa/cb/93/365de0299f670b/US2678665-drawings-page-1.png patent] dates to 1954. Dieffenbach served as chairman until 1972 and the business, then based in [[Towson, Maryland]], was sold in 1979.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17658362/otto-dieffenbach-19-nov-1880-7-july/|title=Otto Dieffenbach (19 Nov 1880 - 7 July 1973)|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=9 July 1973|pages=9|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/|title=Baltimore Sun: Baltimore breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic|website=baltimoresun.com}}</ref>

One of the first mass-produced twisted straw was Sip-N-See invented by Milton Dinhofer.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Monkey Business |journal=Rensselaer |issue=Spring/2015 |pages=12–13 |publisher=Office of Strategic Communications and External Relations, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute}}</ref> Dinhofer originally patented his straw in the shape of a scissor with two loops on top,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dinhofer |first1=M. |title=Drinking Straw |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/USD158056 |website=Google Patents |access-date=29 December 2018}}</ref> but [[Macy's]] would not carry the straw unless it had a character on it. They suggested Dinhofer make three straws (eventually patented in 1950):<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dinhofer |first1=Milton |title=Toy Drinking Tube |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US2619770A/en |website=Google Patents |access-date=29 December 2018}}</ref> a cowboy, a clown and an animal for which he made an elephant. Each of his characters was attached to a looping soft [[polyethylene]] straw. Rexor Corp. copyrighted<ref>{{cite web |title=Catalogue of Copyright Entries: Third Series |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8lUhAQAAIAAJ&q=Rexor+corp.+straw+1950&pg=RA1-PA81 |website=Google Books |publisher=The Library of Congress |access-date=29 December 2018 |pages=80 |date=January–June 1950}}</ref> the straw the same year, but Macy's decided not to carry them. Dinhofer first marketed the straws with [[F. W. Woolworth Company|Woolworths]]. The straws were sold in individual boxes, and more characters were eventually added.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dinhofer |first1=M. |title=Drinking Straw |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/USD169241S/en?inventor=Milton+Dinhofer |website=Google Patents |access-date=29 December 2018}}</ref> Other buyers began to carry it, too, and it was marketed as an "action drinking toy."<ref>{{cite news |title=Sip-N-See Advertisement |work=The North Adams Transcript |date=14 August 1951 |location=North Adams, Massachusetts |pages=3}}</ref> Sip-N-See went on to sell approximately six million units.{{cn|date=October 2024}}