Today, balloons are used at events ranging from birthday parties to New Year’s Eve Dances, sports events and other ceremonial functions. They come in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes.
What is a balloon?
A balloon is a thin, flexible bag which can be inflated. The most common materials used for balloons are rubber latex and aluminised plastic. Balloons are inflated with air or gases like hydrogen and helium.
Name
There are different origins to the word balloon. The words ‘ball’ or ‘large ball’ is translated into ballon in French and balla in German. The North Italians called a ‘ball shaped bundle’ a balla.
It is also thought that the word ballon may have originated from the Latin word ballone.
History
Early balloons were made from pig’s bladders and animal intestines. The Aztecs made the first balloon sculptures out of cat intestines and presented them to the gods as sacrifices.
The books, Swiss Family Robinson (1813) and Moby Dick (1851) have references to balloons made out of whale intestines.
The first rubber balloons were made by Sir Michael Faraday. He made them in 1824 to use in his experiments with gases, especially hydrogen at the Royal Institution in London.
Latex rubber balloons were introduced to the world by Thomas Hancock in 1825. In 1847 J.G Ingram of London made the first vulcanised balloons using latex rubber drawn from trees. These were unaffected by the temperature. These vulcanised balloons are regarded as the forerunners of the modern balloon.
First modern balloons
Neil Tillotson created the first modern latex balloon. Called the ‘Tilly Cat’ these were used at the ‘World Patriot’s Day Parade’ on April 19, 1931. Around this time manufacturers started mass producing balloons in different colours and shapes. Some also carried slogans.
The first coloured balloons were sold at ‘Chicago World Fair’ in 1933-1934.
Today, balloons carry greetings for different occasions. Some are customised like those used at weddings with the names of the couple appearing on the balloon.
Lighter-than -air balloon
It was in the late 18th Century, that paper makers Jacques and Joseph Montgolfier discovered that paper bags filled with air rise. in June 1783 they held a public demonstration of their 35’ lighter-than-air balloon made out of cloth lined with paper.
Water and solar balloons
Water balloons are made of rubber and they are thin and small. They can be broken easily and are usually filled with water. Children love playing with and bursting water balloons. They burst them in each other’s faces in fun fights.
Solar balloons are thin, large balloons filled with air heated by the sun to decrease its density and gain lift.
Balloon modelling
During the 1930’s and 1940’ people found out that balloons could be twisted and pulled into different shapes. This is how balloon modelling came to be.
Foil balloons
Technological advancements in the 1970’s made it possible for manufacturers to make inflatable foil balloons from various plastics. Advances in technology in the 1970’s These balloons are called foil balloons because they have a metallic coating to make them shine. Foil balloons are not elastic in texture unlike the rubber balloons. Therefore, the pictures or decorations on them do not get distorted when they are blown up.