It always amazes me how history repeats itself. When I was a child I often tried to play with Yo-Yo's but they always got the best of me! While other children were doing tricks like (walk the dog) I was constantly getting bopped on the head by a run-a-way Yo-Yo. It would appear that Yo-Yo's are making a come back and I may get mychange to walk that dog after all! The History of Yo-Yo's It is believed that Yo Yo's originally came from Greece. Yo-Yo's can be traced back to 500 B.C. The first Yo-Yo's to be introduced were made out of wood, metal or terra cotta. In the 1800's Napoleon often carried a Yo-Yo as a stress reliever. Yo-Yo's have traveled through many countries during their popularity. The Philippines, Greece, China, Europe, England, Scotland and France have all witnessed the power of this toy. The Yo-Yo was first introduced to the United States in the late 1800's and was manufactured and labeled as a (Yo-Yo) in the 1920's A businessman named Donald Duncan first saw the Yo-Yo in 1929. Mr. Duncan became amazed with its popularity and potential. He immedialtly put together a staff and they worked on a catchy advertising promotion. The Duncan Company trademarked the word (Yo-Yo) in the 1930'sto protect his interest and investment. Many companies were now forced to use such terms as, "Return" and "Twirler". In the 1940's the Duncan Company was manufacturing over 3,600 Yo-Yo's per hour. These Yo-Yo's were made of wood. It wasn't until the 1960's that Yo-Yo's were made of plastic. In Late 1965 heavy advertising expenses, overtime wages and attorney fees forced the Duncan Company into bankruptcy. Duncan's name and goodwill were purchased by another Company and the rest is history!
Popular Yo-Yo's manufactured by Duncan
Duncan Litening Yo-Yo manufactured between 1956 and 1957 Duncan Space Needle Seattlite manufactured in 1962 for the Seattle World's Fair O-Boy Duncan Whistling Yo-Yo manufactured in 1932 Duncan Mardi Gras Yo-Yo manufactured in the early 1960's Duncan Super Yo-Yo manufactured in the 1950's There are many popular Duncan Yo-Yo's made, some which are redesigned by othermanufactures.
Yo-Yo Tips
In order for your Yo-Yo to work properly you must maintain it and make a few adjustments. Your string should be adjusted according to your height.This adjustment helps to prevent your Yo-Yo from hitting the ground. Your string should be replaced often as a safety precaution and also helps your Yo-Yo perform more efficiently. If your Yo-Yo has a bearing, you may want to occasionally lightly oil it. If your Yo-Yo has wooden axles, try waxing the string close to the axles.