Boing Boing reader Brian says,

After reading your earlier post about the LAPD using a "Sonic Blaster" I was reminded of a little gem from the Consumer Reports vintage photo gallery: "The Mattel Agent Zero M Sonic Blaster 5530 fires compressed air with a deafening blast. Our measurements top out at 157 dB–above a level that can do permanent damage to the hearing of an adult. We rate the toy Not Acceptable." Correct me if I'm wrong, but is this not the single greatest children's toy ever created? I certainly would have been very, very happy. The rest of the photo gallery is pretty interesting as well, actually, including things like Radio Sunglasses and a Portable Steambath.

Previously on Boing Boing:

LA Sherriff Dept.'s new sonic blaster

RNC-NYC — reported presence of long-range acoustic device (LRAD) at protests

Reader comment : Mulroys says:

If your friend really wants one, he can get one on ebay for about 3-grand. Link. That kind of money would buy a very nice. handmade Italian shotgun. Such a dilemma!

Update : BB co-editor David Pescovitz asked Mark Pauline, founder of Survival Research Laboratories (SRL):

Isn't this a photo of the toy that spawned SRL's Shockwave Cannon device?

And — Mark says yes!:

I got a Mattel engineer to send me all the engineering drawings in 1979 and started from there in around '83. However, I had my first one in 1963. It broke from excess use after 3 months and when I went to get a warranty replacement, I was told that the toy was "discontinued". The engineer remarked that it was probably Mattel's most expensive toy from a lawsuit standpoint. An awesome and dangerous toy!!

Photos of the shockwave cannon are available on the SRL site: Berkeley show, Tokyo show, and a 6-barrel version appeared in the Barcelona show.

You know, that kid in the photo up top even looks as if he could have been Mark back then…