1962 - The year that Spaceball made its first public appearance...
It was an immediate success for George Nissen and the Nissen Corporation!
In May of 1962, my father filed an application to patent Spaceball, but within three months the design changed dramatically. The original design was for a six-legged, rigid framed trampoline with the middle gantry bolted onto the frame. The "backstops" were netting and not meant to be used as a bouncing surface at all! By August of 1962, the backstops evolved! Soon the unit took on a sleeker design as it was made to be portable and more lightweight. The patent was awarded in 1967 but by then thousands of kids and adults had experienced the fun of playing Spaceball at camps, fairs and school exhibitions.
Note: By 1978, the Nissen Corporation ceased all production of trampolines and Spaceball units - -
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"Nissen's - - a great place to work!"
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