The Origin of Aardvark
In 1888, Marvin Stone patented the spiral-winding process to manufacture the first paper drinking straws. The company began as a manufacturer of paper cigarette holders when Mr. Stone got the idea for making drinking straws from paper as a substitute of the rye grass straws used at the time.
The first straw was made by winding strips of paper around a pencil and gluing it together. The new idea was test-marketed at a local drinking establishment where it was enthusiastically received. He then improved on the design by experimenting with paraffin-coated manila paper so the straws would not become soggy. The product was patented and by 1890 the factory was producing more straws than cigarette holders. In 1906, the first machine was invented by the Stone Straw Corporation to machine-wind straws thereby eliminating the hand-winding process. This same machine was later adapted to manufacture other kinds of spiral-wound paper products that, for example, replaced wooden bobbins commonly used in knitting mills.
Marvin Stone's legacy is now part of Precision Products Group, Inc. The Aardvark paper drinking straw is a direct descendant from Stone's original company. It is just re-invented to become rigid, inflexible, and earth friendly!