Plastic Flamingos

Plastic Flamingos

Plastic Flamingos are a 1950 style lawn ornament. They are popular even today. Americans feel that their yard is incomplete without these icons of American pop culture.

History of plastic flamingos

The pink flamingo was created by Don Featherstone of Massachusetts when he was hired by the Union products in 1957 and asked to design a pair of 3D flamingos. He based his design on two images from the National Geographic magazine. One of the images had its head facing up and the other had its head facing down. These lawn ornaments were named after a 1972 movie called pink flamingos.

The first models with eyes done in indelible ink were very popular. The subsequent models were improved with realistic engraved feather markings. In 1985 Featherstone added his signature beneath the tail feathers. In 1996 Featherstone was honored with a spoof prize- the Ig Noble award- for his creation. In 1997 the pair of flamingoes was manufactured with snap-in plastic eyes.

Revival of plastic flamingos

Union products stopped manufacturing plastic flamingos in November 2006. They went out of business due to the high costs of plastic resin and electricity. The flamingos were hence facing the threat of extinction. At this point their prices shot up because they were considered to have become collector’s items.

However their production was revived when their copyright and original plastic moulds were bought in 2007 by HMC international LLC, a subsidiary of Faster Form Corporation. This has been great news for the pink flamingo lovers and the lawn greeting industry alike. The resurrected flamingos are supposed to undergo minor design modifications.

Uses of flamingos

Around 1950, plastic flamingos used to be an icon of kitsch and commercial art. Today, they stand for pop culture and prosperity. They are considered as symbols of elegance and simplicity. They are today not only used as yard decorations, but they are also used in fund raisers, as party decorations and in lawn greeting cards. The pink flamingos are made of petroleum based plastic material and pink dyes. Their metal legs are manufactured from iron and ores.

The plastic bird is not meant to be considered anti nature. Rather, it is intended to show everyone that natural resources were used to make it-it is meant to give you inspiration to make plastics that are degradable and good for ecological systems.

Plastic flamingos are considered as an able alternative to garden dwarfs. In the lawn greeting industry they are used to adorn the victim’s lawn in the dead of the night.