On this day in 1957, the first batch of aerodynamic plastic discs was rolled out by machines at the Wham-O toy company…these discs are now recognized by millions of fans globally as Frisbees.
The origins of the Frisbee can be traced back to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where the Frisbie Pie Company was founded by William Frisbie in 1871. University students in the vicinity would toss the empty pie tins among themselves, shouting “Frisbie!” as they released them.
In 1948, Walter Frederick Morrison, along with his partner Warren Franscioni, created a plastic version of the disc named the “Flying Saucer,” which could fly farther and more precisely than the tin pie plates. After parting ways with Franscioni, Morrison developed an upgraded model in 1955 and marketed it to the new toy company Wham-O as the “Pluto Platter,” correlating with the public’s fascination with space and Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs).
In 1958, the year following the toy’s inaugural launch, Wham-O—known for popular items like the Hula-Hoop, the Super Ball, and the Water Wiggle…altered its name to the Frisbee disc, misrepresenting the name of the original pie company.
The modern Frisbee’s design was patented by a company designer, Ed Headrick, in December 1967, who introduced a series of raised ridges, known as the Rings, on the disc’s surface…which enhanced its flight stability. By promoting Frisbee as a new sport, Wham-O achieved sales of over 100 million units of its iconic toy by 1977.
In 1967, Ultimate Frisbee was invented by high school students in Maplewood, New Jersey—a mix of football, soccer, and basketball. During the 1970s, Headrick innovated Frisbee Golf, involving the tossing of discs into metal baskets; currently, there are hundreds of courses across the U.S. boasting millions of fans. Additionally, Freestyle Frisbee emerged, featuring choreographed performances set to music with multiple discs, along with various Frisbee competitions for both humans and pets…the most natural Frisbee enthusiasts.
As of today, approximately 60 manufacturers produce the flying discs, primarily crafted from plastic and ranging in diameter from 20 to 25 centimeters (8 to 10 inches), featuring a curved lip. The official Frisbee brand is owned by Mattel Toy Manufacturers, who acquired the toy from Wham-O in 1994.
