The Wham-O company, founded in 1948, was named after their first product, the Wham-O slingshot.
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The middle 1950s saw two major innovations in slingshot manufacture, typified by the Wrist-Rocket Company of Columbus, Nebraska, later renamed Trumark.
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Slingshots depend on strong elastic materials, typically vulcanized natural rubber or the equivalent, and thus date back no further than the invention of vulcanized rubber by Charles Goodyear in 1839 (patented in 1844).
In the first episode, for example, the students re-create a Rube Goldberg machine featured in Wild About Hurry that begins with a slingshot and involves a large number of steps, culminating in a cannon shot.
Polgas' way of lighting the cauldron by using a slingshot and a dangling bottle of flammable liquid is reminiscent of archer Antonio Rebollo's way of lighting the cauldron in the 1992 Games opening ceremonies.
Phil Barker was a founder member of the Society of Ancients, serving on the committee for many years and contributing regularly to their magazine Slingshot.
Zane Lowe made it his Album of the week on his BBC Radio One show, and Lauren Laverne has supported their singles, making "Is It Any Wonder" her XFM record of the week, and highlighting "Slingshot" on the BBC television review programme The Culture Show.