In 1942, Russell Gray and Robert Cone formed Graco Metal Products, in Philadelphia. In 1953, Gray left the firm, leaving Cone as sole owner. Cone decided to manufacture his own line of products. 18 months later, the world's first wind-up infant swing, the Graco Swyngomatic®, was born.

Graco salesman predicted that 10,000 of the swings would sell. Graco went on to sell millions of Swyngomatics in the coming years, becoming one of the biggest brands in the baby industry.