HISTORY
Eagle Rubber Company began in a small garage in 1913, with employees making balloons using basic equipment. Harry Gill Sr. and Harry Polley incorporated it in 1916. The company expanded to an 18,000-square-foot building and made Ashland, Ohio the balloon capital. By 1923, they added rubber balls to production.
By 1940, Eagle Rubber Co. expanded to three buildings spanning 60,000 square feet. During World War II, the company shifted from toy manufacturing to military equipment, producing items like life belts and landing boats.
In 1945, the company adopted vinyl materials, and in 1951, Richard Long became president. Kent Sporting Goods was established as a subsidiary in 1957. Brown Group acquired Eagle and Kent in 1971, adding a computerized warehouse. By 1976, Eagle became the world’s largest producer of play balls.
In 1981, the facility operated as Hedstrom Corporation. In 2004, former employees and investors purchased the company, forming Ball, Bounce & Sport Inc.
In 2010, BB&S opened a new plant on Baney Road. Today, its Hedstrom Entertainment Division produces toys in Asia, while Hedstrom Plastics manufactures exercise equipment and plastic parts while remaining in Ashlan Ohio.