![]() In 1962, they sold a limbo dance kit to take advantage of that fad and in 1975, when the movie Jaws was released, they sold plastic shark teeth. In the 1960s they produced a US$119 do-it-yourself bomb shelter cover. With other products, Wham-O tried to capitalize on existing national trends. Around 20 million Super Balls were sold that decade, and the NFL named the Super Bowl games after it. In the early 1960s Wham-O created the Super Ball, a high-bouncing ball made of a hard elastomer Polybutadiene alloy, dubbed Zectron, with a 0.92 coefficient of restitution when bounced on hard surfaces. In 1959 Wham-O marketed a slightly modified version, which they renamed the Frisbee-and once again a Wham-O toy became a common part of life through the 1960s. In 1955 inventor Fred Morrison began marketing a plastic flying disc called the Pluto Platter. Shortly thereafter, the company had another huge success with the Frisbee. "Hula Hoop mania" continued through the end of 1959, and netted Wham-O $45 million (equivalent to $418 million in 2022 ). 25 million were sold in four months, and in two years sales reached more than 100 million. (The name had been used since the 18th century, but till then was not registered as a trademark.) It became the biggest toy fad in modern history. In 1957, Wham-O, still a fledgling company, took the idea of Australian bamboo "exercise hoops", manufactured them in Marlex, and called their new product the Hula Hoop. ![]() ![]() Marengo Ave in Alhambra, California and then, in 1955, moved their manufacturing plant to neighboring San Gabriel, California where they remained until 1987, when they sold the plant to Huy Fong Foods. When they outgrew the garage, Knerr and Melin rented a building on S. The powerful slingshot was adopted by clubs for competitive target shooting and small game hunting. The name "Wham-O" was inspired by the sound of the slingshot's shot hitting the target. Their first product was the Wham-O Slingshot, made of ash wood, which Knerr and Melin promoted by holding demonstrations of their own slingshot skills. In 1948 they formed the WHAM-O Manufacturing Company in the Knerr family garage in South Pasadena. What's your Wham O worth in 2022? Here are some recently sold items.Richard Knerr (1925–2008 ) and Arthur "Spud" Melin (1924–2002 ), two University of Southern California graduates who were friends since their teens, were unhappy with their jobs and decided to start their own business. Webkinz Marbles Mighty Beanz Zippy Monkey Minic Motorways Wham O Value and Price Guide The car was totaled but the ball survived the "test" in perfect condition. It shot back up 15 floors, then down again into a parked convertible car. In one celebrated incident, a giant SUPERBALL, produced as a promotional item, was accidentally dropped out of a 23rd floor hotel window in Australia. He offered the product to Melin and Knerr and the SUPERBALL bouncy ball was created, followed by the Super Gold Ball, Super Baseball and Super Dice. In the early 1960s, Norman Stingley, a chemical engineer, accidentally created a plastic product that bounced uncontrollably. In 1961, Wham-O introduced the original Slip 'N Slide, which quickly became a permanent warm weather favorite among kids around the world. Introduced to the consumer market in 1957 as the Pluto Platter (the name inspired by the country's obsession with Unidentified Flying Objects), it was modified in 1958, renamed the FRISBEE disc, and has become an American icon. They are known for marketing many popular toys in the past 50 years, including the Hula Hoop, the Frisbee, Slip 'N Slide, Super Ball, Trac-Ball, Silly String, Hacky Sack and the Boogie Board.Ī building inspector named Fred Morrison puttered with and refined a plastic flying disc that he sold to WHAM-O in 1955.
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