Father of the Frisbee Dies At 90 89
theodp writes "Walter Fredrick Morrison, whose post-World War II invention of a 'flying' plastic disc became the American recreational icon known as the Frisbee, has died at age 90 of age-related causes (great obit pic). Wham-O Inc. has sold more than 200 million Frisbees since Morrison sold the company the rights to what he called the Pluto Platter in 1957. The roots of today's aerodynamic Frisbees go back to 1937, when Morrison and his future wife tossed a large popcorn can lid back and forth for fun during a Thanksgiving party."
"invention" isn't the right word (Score:1, Insightful)
He didn't invent anything, he's just the one who had the idea of selling "popcorn can lids" as "flying disks" and convinced a toy company it was a good idea?
Re:Not accurate (Score:3, Insightful)
Sure, discus is older, but last person I know who played catch with a discus ended up with about 12 stitches in his head.
You can argue that frisbee is an evolution of the discus, and I would agree with you, but it is certainly a new and separate item.
Re:"invention" isn't the right word (Score:2, Insightful)
And you've sold several hundred million units of what, exactly?