In a recent Mountain Dew commercial , it was said that yo-yo’s were once used as weapons. Some say it is true, some say it is not. Whether it is true or not, it is quite an interesting story.
In the Philippines around 1500, the Yo-Yo is said to have been used as a weapon. It consisted of a four pound stone attached to a rope about 20 feet long. The story goes that the yo-yo would have blades attached and the attacker would hide in a tree and sling it down on an unsuspecting victim. There is no evidence backing this story up and the physics of the yo-yo make this type of weapon unlikely. It is said that tribesmen used it in two ways. When hunting, they stood off to one side, held one end of the rope and threw the rock towards the legs of an animal. The rope would become tangled around the animals legs, and with a little tug, the hunter brought the animal down. When being used against enemies, the stones would be dropped on their heads, the tribesmen would quickly recover the stones, ready for a second hit, if necessary.
In the 1920s, a young man from the Philippines named Pedro Flores, moved to the USA, and worked as a bellhop in a Santa Monica hotel. In the Philippines, carving and playing with wooden yo-yos was a traditional pastime, but when Pedro found that while during his lunch break his yo-yo playing drew a crowd at the hotel. He established a company to make the toys, calling it the Flores Yo-Yo Company. This was the first appearance of the name “yo-yo,” which means “come-come” in the Filipino language of Tagalog.
Donald F. Duncan, an entrepreneur who had introduced the Eskimo Pie with Good Humor Ice Cream, was co-patent holder of a four-wheel hydraulic automobile brake, and later the parking meter. Duncan first encountered the yo-yo during a business trip to California. A year later, in 1929, he returned and bought the company from Flores, acquiring not only the unique toy, but also the name “yo-yo.” About this time, Duncan introduced the looped slip-string, which allowed the yo-yo to do more advanced tricks. During the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, Duncan promoted yo-yos with innovative programs of demonstrations and contests. All of the classic tricks were invented during this time, as legendary players toured the country teaching kids and carving thousands of yo-yos with pictures of palm trees and birds. During the 1950s, Duncan introduced the first plastic yo-yos.
The biggest yo-yo boom in history (until 1995) came in 1962, following Duncan’s use of TV advertising. Financial problems at the end of the boom and a costly lawsuit to protect the yo-yo trademark from competitors forced the Duncan family out of business in the late 60s. Flambeau Products, who made Duncan’s plastic models, bought the company and still owns it today.
The Duncan yo-yo is a classic toy that has lasted for more than 70 years. With more than 600 million sold, it is the most popular toy in history, and was recently inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame. It is sure to continue on a while longer as a very popular toy for young children.