The Atom Ray was made around 1948 by Hiller Mfg., a company that manufactured military hardware including the famous Hiller Helecopter. The Atom Ray is one of the most beautifully designed and meticulously crafted space guns. It has a brass tip to avoid corrosion and a body made of aluminum, a metal that had only recently become commercially viable for toy companies. Although it is an imposing looking toy, the gun measures only 6 1/2 inches long.