Etch A Sketch inventor André Cassagnes dies at 86

André Cassagnes, the inventor of the famous Etch A Sketch children’s toy, passed away Jan. 16 at age 86 in France.

Cassagnes, who came up with the idea for the iconic red-framed drawing toy while working as an electrical technician, displayed his idea at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 1959. American based Ohio Art picked up the idea and started distribution in 1960, according to the Associated Press.

"Etch A Sketch has brought much success to the Ohio Art Company, and we will be eternally grateful to André for that. His invention brought joy to so many over such a long period of time," said the president of Ohio Art, Larry Killgallon, according to the Associated Press.

Etch A Sketch has weathered the test of time and stayed popular despite the rise of more technologically advanced toys. According to The Guardian, the toy was inducted into the U.S. National Toy Hall of Fame in 1998 and is ranked as one of the top 100 toys of the last century by the American Toy Association.