Larami Corporation
49 years in operation (1950–1999)
About Larami Corporation
Larami is best known for inventing and producing the Super Soaker — a pressurised water gun far more powerful than anything before it — in 1990, designed by NASA engineer Lonnie Johnson. The Super Soaker became one of the best-selling toys of the 1990s. Hasbro acquired Larami in 1995.
History of Larami Corporation
Larami spent forty years as an unremarkable maker of inexpensive novelty and outdoor toys — water pistols, toy weapon sets, rack-hung plastic goods — and then in 1990 released the Super Soaker and changed the category permanently.
The technology came from Lonnie Johnson, an engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory who had developed a pressurised water gun using a hand pump and an air reservoir, giving it range and volume that conventional squirt guns could not approach. Larami licensed it, and the Super Soaker 50 became one of the fastest-selling toys of its era, followed by a full range from small pistols to the enormous CPS models.
The Super Soaker's success made Larami an acquisition target, and Hasbro bought the company in 1995, folding the brand into its Nerf-led outdoor business. Super Soakers continue in production under Hasbro, which makes the original Larami-marked models the collectable ones.
Timeline
- 1950Larami is established in Philadelphia making inexpensive novelty and outdoor toys
- 1989Larami licenses Lonnie Johnson's pressurised water-gun design
- 1990The Super Soaker 50 launches and becomes a phenomenon
- 1993The CPS series extends the range to very large pressurised models
- 1995Hasbro acquires Larami
Notable & Best-Selling Toys
- Super Soaker 50 (1990)
- Super Soaker 100
- Super Soaker CPS series
- Super Soaker Monster XL
- Larami toy weapons sets
- Larami water pistols
Identifying & Dating Larami Corporation Toys
- Look for "LARAMI CORP." moulded into the body with a patent number and country of manufacture; post-1995 examples carry Hasbro branding instead.
- Model designations — 50, 100, XP, CPS — are moulded or printed on the body and are how collectors identify them.
- The presence of Larami rather than Hasbro marking is the dividing line between original-era and later production.
Collector's Notes
- Early Larami-marked Super Soakers, particularly the original 50 and the large CPS models, are the collected items, and boxed examples are surprisingly scarce for a 1990s toy.
- Pressure vessels and rubber bladders perish. Many CPS models no longer hold pressure, and this is the main condition issue — check whether the seller has tested it.
- Sun-faded plastic and brittle trigger assemblies are common. These were outdoor toys and were left outdoors.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When was Larami Corporation founded?
Larami Corporation was founded in 1950, based in Philadelphia, PA.
Is Larami Corporation still in business?
No. Larami Corporation ceased operations in 1999, after 49 years in business.
What is Larami Corporation best known for?
Larami Corporation is best known for Super Soaker 50 (1990), Super Soaker 100, Super Soaker CPS series, among other toys.
Where was Larami Corporation located?
Larami Corporation was based in Philadelphia, PA.
What kinds of toys did Larami Corporation make?
Larami Corporation is categorized under outdoor toys, water toys, novelty toys.
How can you identify genuine Larami Corporation toys?
Look for "LARAMI CORP." moulded into the body with a patent number and country of manufacture; post-1995 examples carry Hasbro branding instead. Model designations — 50, 100, XP, CPS — are moulded or printed on the body and are how collectors identify them. The presence of Larami rather than Hasbro marking is the dividing line between original-era and later production.
Are Larami Corporation toys valuable?
Early Larami-marked Super Soakers, particularly the original 50 and the large CPS models, are the collected items, and boxed examples are surprisingly scarce for a 1990s toy. Pressure vessels and rubber bladders perish. Many CPS models no longer hold pressure, and this is the main condition issue — check whether the seller has tested it. Sun-faded plastic and brittle trigger assemblies are common. These were outdoor toys and were left outdoors.