RIP Fred Morrison, Inventor of the Frisbee

[Jaman]

I hope he's having dreams of discs...  Thank you for your invention!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-10s/2010/02/12/frisbee-inventor-walter-frederick-morrison-dies-top-ten-flying-disc-facts-115875-22038167/

Frisbee inventor Walter Frederick Morrison dies: Top ten flying disc facts  By Mirror.co.uk 12/02/2010


With news today of the death of Frisbee inventor Walter Frederick Morrison (above) at his home in Utah at the age of 90, here are ten pieces of flying disc trivia.

1. The roots of the Frisbee can be traced back to students in Connecticut, who would play with pie tins from the nearby Frisbee Baking Company. When the empty pie tins were tossed, college kids would yell "Frisbee!" to signal the oncoming flight of the tin.

2. In 1948, inventor Walter Frederick Morrison developed the idea further into a commercial product, making use of a remarkable new postâ€"World War substance called "plastic".

3. Morrison had invention in his blood - his father developed the first sealed car beam headlight.

4. In 1955, he sold his flying disc invention to WHAMâ€"O, which introduced it in 1957 as the "Pluto Platter", cashing in on America's fascination with UFOs at the time.

5. In 1958, WHAMâ€"O rebranded the "Pluto Platter" as the "Frisbee". The name change appears to have been something of a masterstroke along with the company's tactic of promoting the product as a sporting pursuit, with sales rocketing soon after.

6. The shape of the disc, an airfoil in cross-section, allows it to fly by generating lift as it moves through the air while rotating.

7. Over 100 million Frisbee discs have been produced since 1958.

8. The men's outdoor flying disc world record distance toss is 211.32 meters (693.3 feet), made by Scott Stokely in Colorado in 1998.  The women's long distance record of 136.31 meters was established by Anni Kreml during 1994's U.S. Open Flying Disc Championships.

9. The world record for continual Frisbee play with two people is 126 hours.

10. Need help with your technique? Here's a handy tutorial for some advanced Frisbee throws.

[Kopfjäger]

I got my first frisbee in 60-61. It was yellow and had little window shapes around the raised center like a flying saucer. I had that thing for a long time.  

RIP Mr. Morrison

[somegirl]

The first frisbee dog was a whippet named Ashley.  There used to be (may still be) an ice cream store in New Haven named after Ashley the whippet.

[Kopfjäger]

The first frisbee dog was a whippet named Ashley.  There used to be (may still be) an ice cream store in New Haven named after Ashley the whippet.

 Ashley was amazing. She could jump up and pull a frisbee from the crossbar of an NFL goal post. I have spoken to her former owner about training a dog I had at the time.

One time on a monday night baseball game in LA he broke out onto the field with Ashley during the seventh inning stretch and had her chase down some huge throws before being arrested. I believe the owner of Wham-O was at the game and posted his bail. (?) This was the begining of dog frisbee competition we know today.

[Kopfjäger]

The one and only Ashley Whippet

[Kopfjäger]

http://thepoodleanddogblog.typepad.com/the_poodle_and_dog_blog/2009/10/ashley-whippetthe-first-frisbee-dog.html

[Grampa]

I trust they scattered his ashes over his neighbors roof.

[ducpainter]

I trust they scattered his ashes over his neighbors roof.