Famous toy inventor Bert Meyer passes away at the age of 99

• Bert Meyer passed away on July 30, 2025, at the age of 99.
• He created toys such as Lite-Brite and Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots.
• Meyer founded the company Meyer/Glass Design, which produced popular toys.

Bert Meyer, who created toys such as Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, Lite-Brite, and MouseTrap, passed away on July 30. He was 99 years old.

Meyer passed away in a residence for the elderly, King-Bruwaert House, located in Burr Ridge, Illinois. His inventions emerged during the post-war boom, when mass production revolutionized the playtime of American children.

The idea for Lite-Brite originated in 1966, when Meyer was strolling through Manhattan with Marvin Glass. They saw a window with hundreds of colorful lights. Meyer, working at Marvin Glass & Associates, convinced the engineers that electric lights could be safely adapted for children.

Meyer developed a small illuminated box and black paper sheets that allowed children to create colorful designs. Lite-Brite became a hit and was included in Time Magazine's list of the 100 greatest toys.

Additionally, Meyer transformed the idea for an arcade game with a box for the home into Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots. In this game, players control robot heads, pressing buttons on joysticks.

His company, Meyer/Glass Design, founded in the mid-1980s, released many bestsellers, including Gooey Louie. Meyer also designed toys with aerospace engineering, emphasizing the importance of teamwork.

Meyer was born in 1926 as Berton Carpenter Meyer, served in the U.S. Army, and after his discharge worked in toy manufacturing for 80 years.

In 2010, he stated that he still enjoys telling people about his work, receiving the response: "Oh, I played with that!"

Tags: USA