via Boing Boing by David Pescovitz on 9/27/10 
The new issue of Wired includes a lovely visual feature by BB pal Steven Leckart and photographer Dan Forbes showcasing the prototypes of iconic tech products, from the Atari 2600 to the Moog Modular synthesizer. I think Steven and Dan should do a coffee table book of these, and also include photos of the glorious failures, build notes, back-of-the-envelope sketches, and interviews with the makers. Above, the Super Soaker, 1989: Lonnie Johnson was trying to build a better refrigerator, based on a low-cost heat pump that circulated water instead of Freon. But when one of his custom-machined brass nozzles blasted a stream of water across his bathroom, Johnson—by day an engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory—realized he had the makings of something way more fun. A shotgun-style air pump and a series of check valves allowed for sniperlike range and accuracy with little exertion. Selling the idea to toy companies, though, was more of an effort. After seven years of frustration, Johnson scrapped his difficult-to-manufacture Plexiglas “pressure containment vessel” for an empty 2-liter soda bottle. It wasn’t slick, but it was easy to make.
"Original Models: A Look at Iconic Tech Prototypes"
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