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Walter Frederick Morrison

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description Walter Frederick Morrison Overview

Walter Frederick Morrison was an American inventor best known for creating the plastic flying disc later marketed globally as the Frisbee. Inspired by tossing tin popcorn lids as a youth, he developed his first flying disc, the "Pluto Platter," in the 1950s. He sold the manufacturing rights and trademark to the Wham-O toy company in 1957, which subsequently renamed the toy. His invention became a foundational product in the recreational toy industry.

help Walter Frederick Morrison FAQ

Who officially trademarked the Frisbee from Walter Frederick Morrison?

Walter Frederick Morrison sold the manufacturing rights to his plastic flying disc design to the Wham-O toy company in 1957. Wham-O subsequently trademarked the name "Frisbee" and popularized the toy worldwide.

What was the original name of the flying disc invented by Walter Frederick Morrison?

Morrison originally marketed his flying disc invention as the "Pluto Platter" in the 1950s. He chose this name to capitalize on the mid-century public fascination with flying saucers and the emerging Space Race.

Did Walter Frederick Morrison invent any other notable products?

While he is most famous for the flying disc, Morrison was a prolific inventor who also developed products like a crude oil-reclaiming device and specific animal traps. However, none of his other inventions achieved the massive cultural impact of the Frisbee.

When did Walter Frederick Morrison first come up with the idea for the Frisbee?

Morrison conceived the idea of a flying disc in the late 1930s when he and his future wife threw a popcorn tin lid back and forth on the beach. The modern plastic version was developed and sold in the late 1940s.

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