While the enterprise was originally founded in 1923 by textile and pencil-case entrepreneurs as Hassenfeld Brothers, its foundational entry into the modern toy market occurred with the revolutionary breakout success of Mr. Potato Head in 1952. Originally invented by George Lerner, the toy was distributed by Hasbro and made history as the very first plaything ever advertised directly to children on network television. In its earliest commercial iteration, the set did not include a plastic potato body; instead, it consisted solely of various plastic facial parts, pipes, and push-pins designed for children to stick into real, raw potatoes or other household vegetables. This creative novelty concept captured the imagination of post-war children and propelled the family firm into an enduring powerhouse within the global toy industry.