Uploaded January 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Last year, I bought a set of 8 colorful Rubbermaid Coasters with the brand name “Kar-Rugs” printed on them. So what were Kar-Rugs? And what did they have to do with coasters? From car mats to coasters, this video covers the history of Rubbermaid’s surprise smash hit of the 1950s: Kar-Rugs.

Sources
“Rubbermaid Kar-Rugs ad,” Collier’s, May 7, 1949
(archive.org/details/colliers123aprspri/page/n493/mode/2up?q=kar-rug)

“Stylemaster Kar-Rugs ad,” Sports Illustrated, Dec 5, 1955
(archive.org/details/Sports-Illustrated-1955-12-05/page/n67/mode/2up?q=kar-rugs)

“Rubbermaid,” Notable Company Chronologies, Susan Boyles Martin, editor, 1995
(archive.org/details/notablecorporate0000unse/page/1510/mode/2up?q=rubbermaid)

“Rubbermaid’s Climb Began with Dustpan,” Lansing State Journal, Feb 19, 1955
(via newspapers.com)

“Wooster Rubber Eyes Sales Peak,” Joseph K. Kuebler, The Akron Beacon Journal, May 29, 1955
(via newspapers.com)

“Rubbermaid Coasters Aid Entertaining,” The Valley Times, Apr 17, 1953
(via newspapers.com)

“Krystaliner Kar-Rug ad,” The Baytown Sun, Aug 31, 1964
(via newspapers.com)

“Flatter your car in ’58 fashion with Rubbermaid,” Sports Illustrated, Apr 7, 1958
(archive.org/details/Sports-Illustrated-1958-04-07/page/n99/mode/2up?q=kar-rug)