Rubik’s Cube from Ideal (1980)

Company: Ideal | Release date: 1980 | Where to purchase: eBay

Is it a toy, math puzzle, or logic game? When it comes to the Rubik’s Cube, the answer is a definitive “yes!” to all three questions.

Invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and architecture professor Erno Rubik, the cube recently hit mid-life crisis status and celebrated its 40th birthday.

Originally dubbed the “Magic Cube”, the name was changed when Ideal Toy Corp. acquired the rights to it in 1980 and began marketing it internationally. Since that time, the toy has managed to persevere through fad status in the early 80s to become a pop culture icon with a dedicated fan base, sales topping 350 million, and a governing body to coordinate cube-based events and competitions.

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