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American manufacturer Louis Marx & Co. produced this bulbous Flash Gordon toy ray gun made of tin-plated steel in 1935.

Fictional space heroes often carried space-themed versions of the Western's ever-present six-shooter or rifle. As a result, for several generations, pretend gun play with ray gun toys formed a central part of many children's imagined space adventures. Exactly how one blasted space enemies often reflected the newest technologies. In the late 1940s, "atomic" guns proliferated. "Laser" guns followed the creation of the practical laser in 1960.

Collector Michael O'Harro gave this toy ray gun to the Smithsonian in 1993 as a part of a large donation of space science fiction objects

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

Object Details

Date

1935

Country of Origin

United States of America

Type

MEMORABILIA-Popular Culture

Manufacturer

Louis Marx & Co.

Dimensions

3-D: 17.8 x 6.4 x 12.7cm, 0.3kg (7 x 2 1/2 x 5 in., 5/8lb.)

Materials

Overall, tin plated steel

Inventory Number

A19970776000

Credit Line

Gift of Michael O'Harro. Restrictions Unknown, Copyright 1935, Licensed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
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