Wham-o magic window

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The Wham-O magic window was toy mass-produced by Wham-O from 1973 to 1979. It was made from two 30x30 cm oval plates of heavy clear plastic, with a narrow channel between them containing glass crystal sands of varying colors.

Vintage Blue and white Wham-O Magic Window toy from the 1970s

The Magic Window were so named because each window contained both a colored sand and a white sand which didn't mix but instead created layered patterns. (The sands were termed "microdium crystals" on the product packaging.) The window could be turned, tapped or shaken to create unique designs in the sand. The Magic Window was marketed and described as allowing the user to "create moving changing pictures."

The original model contained blue sand (with hints of black sand) and white sand. The other colors were green/white and pink/white -- both glow-in-the-dark models. There was also a limited-run "Crystal Fantasy" Magic Window produced in 1979, which contained the blue and white, glow-in-the-dark green, plus a pink sand and tiny glitter flakes. The colored sands had a higher density (were heavier), while the white sand was similar to powdered silicon. ^[1]

The concept behind the Magic Window toy came from inventor Roy L. Cloutier, who had a degree in Engineering Physics from Michigan Tech.^[2] Cloutier patented the concept in 1972, describing it as "An apparatus for visually presenting artistic flow patterns, comprising a container providing an inner chamber having a transparent wall for viewing the contents of the chamber, and a flowable non-liquid particulate material contained loosely in said chamber and capable of solid flow."^[3]

In 2007, Wham-O stated they would consider bringing these back if there was a significant demand; however, as of 2008, a company spokesperson stated in an email response that they had no interest in marketing these again. However, the current owners of the original patent have made a slightly modified version of the Magic Window available, created and marketed without Wham-O's involvement.^[4]

References

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