On This Day: Wham-O Acquires Rights To Frisbee In 1957

The original Wham-O Pluto Platter.

60 years ago today, Wham-O purchased the rights to the production of the frisbee, setting the stage for what would become a ubiquitous toy around the world.

Wham-O bought the rights to the ‘Pluto Platter’ from Walter Morrison, the inventor of the plastic flying disc, on January 23, 1957, and began production later that year. Wham-O changed the name from Pluto Platter to Frisbee a year later.

An earlier version of this article stated that Wham-O first produced the Pluto Platter 60 years ago today. That is a widely reported falsehood, and, in fact, it was today that Wham-O bought the rights to produce what would become known as the frisbee. Thanks to Robert McLeod and the World Flying Disc Federation for the correction. 

 

  1. Charlie Eisenhood
    Charlie Eisenhood

    Charlie Eisenhood is the editor-in-chief of Ultiworld. You can reach him by email (charlie@ultiworld.com) or on Twitter (@ceisenhood).

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