History is full of happy accidents, where a specific problem led to a solution that nobody expected. Many of the items we use in our daily lives, from the toys in our playrooms to the medicine in our cabinets, started out with completely different identities.
Some of these products began as failed experiments, lost in the pages of history, until a sharp-eyed inventor noticed a hidden potential. Others were created for serious industrial or military uses before finding a more practical use in our daily lives.
By understanding their origins, we can see how creativity and flexibility often lead to the world's biggest successes. In this gallery, we explore the strange and surprising backstories of some famous products. Click on to know more.