Posted
1/21/2008 02:40:00 PM
by Douglas
R.I.P., Richard. How to turn a garage slingshot business into a household name is the
American dream.Seeing a potentially profitable idea, Knerr and Melin bought a seven-dollar handsaw and started producing slingshots in Knerr's garage.
They called their company Wham-O supposedly after the sound that the slingshot made when it hit its target.
"Spud would cut 'em, I'd sand 'em, and that's the way the business started," Knerr recalled. "Spud would go out one way and sell 'em, and I'd go out another. We ran some mail-order advertising, began lining up dealers, and first thing we knew, we were taking orders from sporting-goods dealers all over the United States."
Think I'll go buy a Frisbee in honor Richard.