Monday, January 23, 2012

I Love These Things...!

Even at my age, I can still play a mean game of Frisbee!

When I was just a kid, and coffee cans had lids that had to be opened with a key, we would use the lids of the can to throw back and forth. You had to be careful though, as the sharp edges on the lids would really cut your thumb if you caught it wrong!

The main trouble was, being metal the lids had a way of getting bent and twisted until they were no longer any fun! When the plastic Frisbee came out, it was an immediate hit!

Jan 23, 1957:
Toy company Wham-O produces first Frisbees


On this day in 1957, machines at the Wham-O toy company roll out the first batch of their aerodynamic plastic discs--now known to millions of fans all over the world as Frisbees.

The story of the Frisbee began in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where William Frisbie opened the Frisbie Pie Company in 1871. Students from nearby universities would throw the empty pie tins to each other, yelling "Frisbie!" as they let go. In 1948, Walter Frederick Morrison and his partner Warren Franscioni invented a plastic version of the disc called the "Flying Saucer" that could fly further and more accurately than the tin pie plates. After splitting with Franscioni, Morrison made an improved model in 1955 and sold it to the new toy company Wham-O as the "Pluto Platter"--an attempt to cash in on the public craze over space and Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs).

In 1958, a year after the toy's first release, Wham-O--the company behind such top-sellers as the Hula-Hoop, the Super Ball and the Water Wiggle--changed its name to the Frisbee disc, misspelling the name of the historic pie company. A company designer, Ed Headrick, patented the design for the modern Frisbee in December 1967, adding a band of raised ridges on the disc's surface--called the Rings--to stabilize flight. By aggressively marketing Frisbee-playing as a new sport, Wham-O sold over 100 million units of its famous toy by 1977.

High school students in Maplewood, New Jersey, invented Ultimate Frisbee, a cross between football, soccer and basketball, in 1967. In the 1970s, Headrick himself invented Frisbee Golf, in which discs are tossed into metal baskets; there are now hundreds of courses in the U.S., with millions of devotees. There is also Freestyle Frisbee, with choreographed routines set to music and multiple discs in play, and various Frisbee competitions for both humans and dogs--the best natural Frisbee players.

Today, at least 60 manufacturers produce the flying discs--generally made out of plastic and measuring roughly 20-25 centimeters (8-10 inches) in diameter with a curved lip. The official Frisbee is owned by Mattel Toy Manufacturers, who bought the toy from Wham-O in 1994.

It's funny how we used to be satisfied with simple toys, and how these toys kept us outside and running much more than the toys today do!

It's no wonder we were much more healthy back then than the youth of today are! I don't remember obesity being much of a problem in the old days! Of course, there wasn't as many problems with youth crime either, but I think that the reason behind that was because family values were still important!

Now, I'm ready for some fresh coffee on the patio this morning. Sound good to you?

11 comments:

Mystic Mud said...

Oddly enough, I was never much of a Fresbee player, but my kids play it....but we "unplugged" them a few years ago just so that they could learn to enjoy the simple pleasures in life:)

HermitJim said...

Hey Mystic...
I think you did a good thing, letting them learn the joys of discovering the fun to be had playing outdoors and finding pleasure in the wonderful creations found only in the wide open mind of a child!

Simple can be better!

Thanks for coming by today!

Rob said...

I think many parents should "unplug" their kids today from all the electronic games of today. (cell, ieverything, game-boys, etc)

chinasyndrome said...

That's my game too Jim! Love Frisbee. I used to wear my kids out playing it.

China
III

linda m said...

I can't throw a frisbee for love or money. My son and grandson love to play it and I go along for the ride. Then they all make fun of Grandma - Grandma throws like a girl. haha Kids today need to return to the more simple things in life. God forbid should we ever have a time when our electronics no longer work!!!!

Ben in Texas said...

Of course I had a Frisbee (or 2 or 3)
Best toy in the World for a puppy also! My Labrador would wear me out with the dang thing.

Aww, the simple pleasures of life back then.

Wasn't there some research in the military using it as a delivery system for explosives for troops in the field ?

Baby Sis said...

Bubba -

Funny - we were just yesterday discussing Frisbee Golf! Some folks have never heard of it, but there are devotees of the sport.

Yes, I remember playing Frisbee - think we still have one areound the house somewhere - greatest beach toy ever!

And Mystic - one more item to add to my list of admirations of you and your man - keep up the good work, your kids seem to be doing fine. I'm a regular follower now!

Big Hugs -

TROUBLEnTX said...

My g/son in law runs the frisbee golf in a huge area around Georgetown. Last time i asked how many were there the Sun before, he said 93. This is winter!

HermitJim said...

Hey Rob...
Sure would be a new thing for so many kids out there.

Growing up, we didn't have access to anything electronic, so our favorite thing to do indoors was to read a book!

Thanks for coming by today!


Hey China...
Isn't it amazing how much enjoyment we can get out of something so simple? At least, most of us can!

Thanks, buddy, for coming by today!


Hey Linda...
I couldn't agree with you more!

So grandma throws like a girl, huh? Big surprise there! Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?

Hey, I sure appreciate you coming over today!


Hey Ben...
Good thing about the Frisbee is that you could really abuse it, run over it, soak it in water, whatever...and it still worked just fine.

Great toy for anyone!

Thanks, buddy, for coming by today!


Hey Sis...
First time I ever heard about Frisbee golf was when I was in the service. Lots of folks still enjoy it with a passion!

I sure do thank you for coming by today!


Hey Trouble...
You do know that Georgetown is my hometown, right?

I was born there in 1944 and still have many cousins and relatives living in the area! Small world!

Thanks for the visit this morning!

JO said...

I'm late sorry. Had to drop off MH for repairs so I can run away and know how much gas I have. lol
I was never very good at the game but at least tried. It was fun and I usually got smacked in the face with it cause I couldn't catch it fast enough. OH the good ole days.

sel said...

I wish with all my being that we had unplugged many years ago.