About Franz Kolb
Lived 1900 – 2000. Franz Kolb was a German engineer, pharmacist and inventor.
Franz Kolb (fl. 1880s) was a German pharmacist and the inventor of the modeling paste Plastilin. In English-speaking countries this material is also known as "plasticine." Because of different patent rights in Germany and England, there are different views about who actually invented plasticine. In England, William Harbutt is seen as the inventor, while in Germany it is Franz Kolb. Kolb's German patent is from 1880, while Harbutt's English one is from 1897. The exact formulation of the two products is different.
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Important facts
People in Franz Kolb's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Franz Kolb's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Franz Kolb?
German pharmacist
When was Franz Kolb born?
Franz Kolb was born in 1900.
When did Franz Kolb die?
Franz Kolb died in 2000.
What was Franz Kolb's occupation?
Franz Kolb was an engineer, pharmacist and inventor.
What nationality was Franz Kolb?
Franz Kolb was German.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Franz Kolb. https://biography.guide/franz-kolb/
MLA: "Franz Kolb." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/franz-kolb/.
Chicago: "Franz Kolb." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/franz-kolb/.
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