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Toys and Games ➔ Super Soaker
Identifier:
2018.25.59Description:
Super Soaker is a brand of recreational water gun that utilizes manually-pressurized air to shoot water with greater power, range, and accuracy than conventional squirt pistols. The Super Soaker was invented in 1982 by engineer Lonnie Johnson. In March of 1989, Lonnie Johnson met with Myung Song, Larami’s President, at their office in Philadelphia. Lonnie took his new and improved water gun and shot it across the room, to which Larami’s president exclaimed, “WOW”. A contract was quickly executed and Larami assigned the project to Bruce D’Andrade to develop tooling for large-scale manufacturing. D’Andrade configured the gun components for manufacturing using injection molded parts. When the gun was marketed by Larami in 1990, Johnson’s top mounted, blow molded bottle became an icon that made this revolutionary water gun identifiable as the Super Soaker®. The use of bottles for water containment has subsequently become a hallmark in the toy industry, with other manufacturers copying this approach for all types of water guns.Date:
circa 1990Dimensions:
10 1/4"" h 20"" w 2 3/8"" dCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Museum PurchaseLinks:
http://www.isoaker.comhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Soaker
Exhibits/Programs:
TOYS! (2018 – 2020)This GRPM original exhibit featured toys and games from the museum’s collections in meticulously crafted displays representing childhood in different eras. This interactive, multi-generational exhibition of toys and games is sure to rekindle childhood memories and spark the creation of new ones.
Innovators: Celebrating Black History (January 2024)
This one-day program showcases local collaborators initiatives that have impacted local, national, and global communities in innovative ways. Additionally, this program will kick off the Museum’s STEAM month with programming through the month of February as well as an exploration of local community leaders through exhibit and artifact highlights. Community partners will share information, prototypes, products, creations, ideas and more with museum guests. Visitors will explore artifacts from our collection that highlight African American innovations. Museum guests can also explore temporary display: Booker T Washington Visits Grand Rapids.
Related Entities:
Larami Corp. (creator) Lonnie Johnson (creator)Lonnie George Johnson(born October 6, 1949) is an American inventor, aerospace engineer, and entrepreneur, whose work includes U.S. Air Force term of service and a twelve-year stint NASA where he worked at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He invented the Super Soaker water gun in 1989, which has been among the world's bestselling toys ever since. (Source: Wikipedia)