Wham-o Magic Window - Timeline

Timeline

• 1948, WHAM-O founded - For about a year in the fifties, the company tried to brand their sporting goods under the name WAMO. The sporting goods buyers didn't care for the switch so it was soon dropped.
• 1957, Hula Hoop first manufactured by Toltoys (Developed by David Tolmer).
• 1957, WHAM-O invents the Flying Saucer / Frisbee and it is first marketed.
• 1958, Hula Hoop first marketed by WHAM-O.
• 1958, the Hula Hoop craze occurs.
• 1958, Flying Saucer / Frisbee sales improved.
• 1961, Slip 'N' Slide first manufactured by WHAM-O.
• 1965, Super Ball first manufactured by WHAM-O.
• 1982, Wham-O was purchased by Kransco Group Companies.
• 1994, Mattel bought Wham-O from Kransco.
• 1995, Wham-O bought Aspectus company.
• 1997, Wham-O became independent again when a group of investors purchased the company from Mattel.
• 2002, Arthur "Spud" Melin died.
• January 2006, Wham-O was sold for ~ US$80 million to Cornerstone Overseas Investment Limited, a Chinese company that owns or controls five factories in China. That same month Wham-O donated the office files, photographs and films of Dan "Stork" Roddick (Dir. Sports Promotion 1975–1994) to Western Historical Manuscript Collection (Midwest Disc Sports Collection accession 5828). WHMC is located on the University of Missouri, Columbia campus and is a joint collection with the State Historical Society of Missouri.
• 2008, Richard Knerr died.
• 2008, Wham-O introduced the EZ Spin Foam Frisbee Disc (waterproof foam disc with plastic center for spinning of disc on top or bottom of disc).
• 2009, Wham-O sold to investment firm The Aguilar Group.
• 2010, Wham-O acquired Sprig Toys Inc.