| One of the most famous brand of ear plugs | | | | expanding business went on from being just a |
| available today are Macks ear plugs from McKeon | | | | simple basement to eight manufacturing facilities. |
| products. There ear plugs are nowadays sold | | | | Raymond, who did play for several classical |
| worldwide and are renowned for their high quality | | | | symphony orchestras, most prominently in |
| and range of usage. The earplug range has been | | | | Cleveland and Detroit Symphony Orchestras, |
| designed to help with sleeping, swimming, music, | | | | went on to work in the swimming earplugs |
| work ware as well as other applications. | | | | business full time after 30 years of active playing. |
| When an aspiring symphonic orchestra musician | | | | His wife and kids were taking care of the |
| named Raymond Benner stumbled upon a retiring | | | | business while he was on the job. |
| pharmacist, he had no idea that the pharmacist's | | | | The silicone based swimming earplugs were |
| earplug business he bought for his wife will | | | | invented in 1962 by Raymond Benner. The |
| become his life's most important work. He paid | | | | company went a long way since then, entering |
| some two thousand dollars for the company, | | | | the International Swimming Hall of Fame as their |
| taking over the McKeon Products, Inc. This | | | | official earplugs. |
| company had only one product that was being | | | | Nowadays it is almost impossible to watch a |
| sold, Mack's Earplugs. | | | | swimming or diving event and see some |
| The moldable clay mixture of earplugs was not | | | | participants not wearing swimming earplugs. They |
| perceived to be sufficiently water proof to be | | | | become so widely spread, that now everyone is |
| used as swimming earplugs by Benner. Benner | | | | using them when submerged in water. You would |
| was an enthusiastic swimmer. He would have | | | | almost expect people to wear them in their own |
| loved to use some swimming earplugs in order to | | | | bath tubs. Mack's swimming earplugs became |
| prevent ear infections, predominantly the outer | | | | extremely famous when they were used for the |
| ear infections known as the swimmer's ear; | | | | first time in a World Series Baseball Game. |
| furthermore he hated when his ears got clogged | | | | The wide usability and applicability of these |
| by water. So he went on to experiment with | | | | moldable silicone swimming earplugs have allowed |
| production techniques, a little bit more of this, | | | | people to employ them in other various |
| some less of that, and suddenly he found himself | | | | circumstances, like at night, for light sleepers, or |
| with a more sticky, moldable substance, which he | | | | at work, where noisy environments disturb, or |
| felt could be the world's first swimming earplugs, | | | | machines are too loud. The swimming earplugs are |
| moldable silicone earplugs. | | | | the favorite earplugs for people traveling with |
| Swimming earplugs made out of silicone prevent | | | | various aircraft, the capability to not only suppress |
| ear infections | | | | the noise of engines, but to assist in avoiding any |
| They looked like little fluffy pillows, so Cecilia, his | | | | damage because of cabin pressure, together with |
| wife and Raymond decided to call the new | | | | the fact that the swimming earplugs are |
| product Mack's Pillow Soft Earplugs. The instant | | | | inexpensive and easy to use, have made them a |
| success was not really expected, and the | | | | constant traveling companion to many. |