Top Chart-Toppers: The Iconic Best-Sellers of the Swinging 60s

11. Ballpoint pens with Bic Cristal.

Where It Was Sold: Office Depot, Staples, and Woolworth's; Company: Bac * Original cost: $0.19 for each pen. With a simple guarantee of flawless writing at an unbelievable price, Bic Cristal Ballpoint Pens made history. All people could now rely on Bic's reliable flow and durability, from executives closing deals to students taking notes.

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Bic Cristal Ballpoint Pens (Wikimedia/Carlos Delgado). The brilliantly designed, clear barrel of the pen allowed users to see how much ink was remaining, eliminating the worry of running out of ink in the middle of a sentence. The Bic Cristal evolved into more than just a pen; it became an instrument of democracy in writing, making sure that no thought was overlooked and no signature vanished into thin air.

12. Desserts using Jell-O Gelatin

Where to Buy It: Across the country, in grocery stores Organization: General Foods * Original cost: $0.10 per packet With a splash of flavor and color, Jell-O Gelatin Desserts made their way into American kitchens and quickly established themselves as the preferred dessert for any situation. Because of its versatility and ease of preparation, Jell-O was a mainstay for everything from summer barbecues to holiday feasts.

Explore Jell-O Gelatin Desserts on Pinterest and Google. Both kids and homemakers were captivated by the brand's creative marketing, which included colorful imagery and wacky recipes. Jell-O captured the inventive spirit of the 1960s by providing a playful, adaptable dessert that could be layered, molded, or combined with fruits, making every meal an occasion for celebration.