Background and Identification
The earliest evidence for the invention of the water gun is an 1896 patent by J.W. Wolff. However, a quote from General William T. Sherman thirty-one years earlier references the device. When speaking about ending secession, General Sherman said: “Why, you might as well attempt to put out the flames of a burning house with a squirt-gun.”
Water guns today are an exceptionally popular outdoor (hopefully!) children’s toy. Water guns use a variety of different water-propulsion mechanisms. These methods include squeeze bulbs, pistons, motorized pistons, air pressurized reservoirs, air-based separate pressure chambers, water pressure chambers, hydropower, springs, peristaltic pumps, and more.
Water guns are used and disposed in millions every summer. Repairing and fixing these can potentially address a lot of waste. Common problems in water guns include leaks, internal tubes getting disconnected or snapping, and seals on the trigger and piston leaking.
Water guns are usually relatively small in size and easily portable, unless, of course, you happen to have Mark Rober’s water gun. Water guns are typically made of plastic. They come in a variety of colors and are made by numerous manufacturers, but they all include a few key components: a handle, a water tank, a trigger, and a nozzle of some form.