Who Invented the Cotton Candy Machine?

January 14, 2016

The cotton candy that is so popular at fairs and carnivals has been around for over a century. Tennessee candy-makers William Morrison and John C. Wharton invented the first cotton candy machine in the 1890s. They called the treat it produced “fairy floss.”
 
Morrison and Wharton sold fairy floss at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 for 25 cents, which was half the cost of admission. Despite the steep price, people were willing to pay it. Over 68,000 boxes of fairy floss were sold at the World’s Fair that year.
 
Early cotton candy machines were unreliable. They rattled and often broke down. Gold Metal Products in Cincinnati, Ohio introduced a spring base in 1949 that was a significant improvement. Today, the company still produces almost all cotton candy machines.
 
Ice Scream Social serves delicious cotton candy from push carts at events in the Boston area. If you are planning a birthday party, wedding, company event, or another special occasion this winter or in the spring, we can make it special. We also rent ice cream trucks and serve other tasty treats such as pretzels, popcorn, Snow Cones, hot dogs, kettle corn, and fried dough from push carts at events. Contact us today to reserve your ice cream truck or push carts.

---