Whamo Ball

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

21282

Title

Whamo Ball

Description

A Whamo Super Ball with accompanying illustrated packaging. The text on the packaging reads 'The Most fantastic ball ever created by science. The original Whamo Super Ball. 50,000 lbs of compressed energy. Amazing fun. It's almost alive. A Berwick Toy. Made of amazing ZECTRON & you control its super power'.

Artist / maker

Berwick Toys

Date

1955

Size

5cm

Type

Toy

Location

Museum of Childhood

Accession number

MC30.87

Produced by Wham-O manufacturing Co, the Super Ball bounced on to the scene in 1965. Having been invented by Californian chemist Norman Stingley. The 'Super Ball' became the best selling toy in the United States the year it was launched. The little ball's durability enabled it to be bounced of buildings, walls and pavements at a great height. The ball has even been said to scale a three story building. The Super Ball is manufactured from a substance known as polybutadiene and sulphur to reinforce and fuse the material.
The ball was then moulded under one thousand pounds of pressure per square inch at a temperature of 320 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Toys > Outdoor games > Balls