Prolific toy and game inventor John Maxim passes away

Prolific toy and game inventor John Maxim has died.

His son Michael announced the news, confirming pancreatic cancer to be the cause. John died at his home in Dallas, Texas, on February 6th.

John began his career as a Preliminary Designer at Mattel in the early Seventies. After several years, he left to become an independent inventor.

Among John’s many licensed items were Ertl’s Bumble Ball, Crayola’s The Cutter, Irwin’s SpectraColor Image Pad, and Guzzlers from Ideal Toys. He was also the brains behind Vivid Imagination’s Wibbly Wobbly Egg Race, Mattel’s Power Command Hot Wheels and countless other playthings.

Later in his career, John became a founding member of the Sunshine Santas a tight knit group of independent inventors residing in south Florida.

In his final days, John continued to enjoy his lifelong passion for creating toys, communicating with colleagues around the country about projects in development. He held dozens of patents.

His son, Michael, is an engineer and now follows in his father’s footsteps as an independent inventor.

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