Informal Guide - Here's a brief guide to help you during your visit. Continue down this page to view each and every one of these Mysterious Yo-Yos and Yo-Yo Items !!! Click on this link to view the complete Listing of all of the yo-yo items on display. You can also return to the Museum Guide on the main page. As always, you can click on most of the images for a better look.
Even as a very small child, I was always fascinated by the
Mysteries of Yo. Here's a picture of me with my first yo-yo.
Like most infants, I'm working on my very first trick ... the
Sleeper. Then, I mastered Rock the Baby in the Cradle. Or
was it someone else that rocked the baby in the cradle???
I'm not sure. It's hard to remember that far back.
What do I mean by the Mysteries of Yo ??? Well, it's not
like a game of Clue ... A murder was not committed by
Mr.Yo-Yo in the Yo-Yo Gallery with a Duncan Imperial.
At least I don't think so. Still, the Yo-Yo holds it's mysteries.
Even the origin of the Yo-Yo is clouded in mystery ... No one knows for sure where it
originated, or how long ago it was invented. There are only theories.
But even recent Yo-Yo History is not well documented. That's where I need your help.
The items shown below are "Mysterious" because I've been unable to find information
on them. If you have more information and know the answers to my questions, please
get in touch with me. Help me fill in the gaps in the recent History of the Yo-Yo.
If you have any Yo-Yo Mysteries of your own, please let me know. If we can't figure
them out together, we can post your pictures and questions here too.
This is an undersized yo-yo ... It measures only 1 1/2"
in diameter and is about 3/8" thick. Each half is made
from a rather soft cast iron, connected with a metal axle.
I'd like to know more about the company that made this
unusual yo-yo, and it's approximate age. I think it may
date back to the 30's ... I've heard of a company named
"Hylo" that made paddleballs in this era. Did the same
company make this yo-yo ??? Please let me know if
you have the answers to this mystery ...
I believe that this is a Gibb yo-yo, but I'm not sure. This
is a large tin yo-yo ... It's about 3 1/2" in diameter, but
is very thin. It has very flat cone shaped sides, which are
stamped and shaped from sheet metal. Maybe even
recycled sheet metal !!! One collector tells me there are
large printed letters on the inside of his Gibb yo-yo, as if
it was made from an old metal sign. The halves are held
together by a metal pin. I'd like to know more about the
company and to place an accurate date on this item. I've
heard dates ranging from the 20's to the 50's. Could this
yo-yo have predated Flores ??? Click on the picture to
see a front and side view.
I found this one a few years back, but don't have a clue
to it's origin. Several other collectors I've talked to also
have this identical yo-yo. It is a large beginners model,
with one side red and one side blue, and a fixed string.
Aside from the four bladed propeller impressed on one
side, there are no other markings. The yo-yo is similar in
shape to some of the older Duncan beginners and some
of the models from Fli-Back. Does anyone know who
manufactured this yo-yo, and when it was made ???
Several collectors have told me that they suspect this
yo-yo was made by the Fli-Back company, which was
located in High Point, North Carolina. The shape, size,
and colors of the yo-yos are very similar to other models
from Fli-Back. Does anyone out there have any of these
in the original display box or packaging ??? If so, I'd like
to know if Fli-Back is mentioned, and how long ago
these yo-yos were made.
The Empress Satellite is a japanese copy of the well
known Duncan Satellite, probably from the early 60's.
On the edge of the yo-yo, "Japan" is stamped in black
ink. It has a beautiful paint job with colors that fade one
into another, and an attractive deeply impressed logo.
In many ways, it's a lot more attractive than the Duncan
model it's copying. The big difference is that unlike the
one piece Satellites from Duncan, this is a three piece
beginner's model with a fixed string. I also have a plain
plastic yo-yo from Empress, but I know little else about
the company. I'd like to find out more about Empress,
and when these yo-yos were made.
This patch was awarded in a Washington D.C. yo-yo
contest in 1946. It's a heavy felt patch and measures
4 1/2" in diameter. You may wonder, what's the big
mystery here. I'd like to know more about this contest.
Does anyone remember it ??? Was it sponsored by any
of the yo-yo companies, or was it an independent city
event ??? There was a delay after World War II before
the major companies got production going again. Was
this contest independent because Duncan and the others
had not got back to speed yet ???
This patch from Royal is made from a thick denim and
measures 3 1/4" Wide by 3 1/2" High. The front of the
patch is a thick blue felt, and the yellow design is printed
directly on it. The design of the crown is similar to some
of Royal's earlier graphics in the 40's, but I'm not sure
how old it is. Could someone help me place an accurate
date on this unusual patch ???
Who is this strange plaid person ?? Well, the mystery's
over. It's me, Dave, standing next to my yo-yo display
case. I'm always looking for more Yo-Yos and Yo-Yo
Stuff to add to my collection. So if you have anything
for sale or trade, E-mail Me right away !!! My address
and phone number are also at the bottom of the page.
Help me find a LOT more Yo-Yos to fill up my display
case. Click on the picture if you really LOVE plaid !!!
As I've mentioned before, Goody yo-yos are highly
sought after by collectors. Goody made many unique
and unusual yo-yos. But the company itself remains a
mystery. Does anyone know more about the history
of Goody ??? If you look at the center of the logo, it
reads ..."REG. U.S.P.O. GOODY MFG. CO. N.Y."
This appears on every Goody yo-yo I've seen. The
translation ..."Registered United States Patent Office,
Goody Manufacturing Company, New York".
But the only patent I've seen is for a toy company called "Goody", filed in 1929. Is this
the origin of the Goody Manufacturing Company ??? If so, when did they start making
yo-yos and when did they stop ??? Another curious fact ... There currently is a Goody
Manufacturing Company in New York. It produces plastic hair clips and combs and
similar items. Is this all that remains of Goody Toys ???
This is a very striking plastic yo-yo... I wish I could find
one for my collection. I'd guess that this one was made
in the 60's, but I really don't know much about it. Does
anyone out there know more about the L.H. Knibb
company, and when this unusual yo-yo was made ???
Was this the only model from L.H. Knibb, or did they
put out other yo-yos as well ???
Is it a yo-yo ??? Or is it a toy motorcycle ???
This one is both, and the only yo-yo to toy
transformer that I know of. The picture shows
both configurations. These were made around
1990 in Taiwan, and came in several colors.
Some were given away as carnival prizes, but
they were also sold in stores ... I've seen one
pictured with the original card. What company
made these and sold them in the US ??? Were
there other yo-yo transformers in the set ???
Here's another "Unknown" plastic yo-yo. This one is
about the size of a Duncan Professional, and like the
Professional, it has clear plastic sides over a design.
The sides have a series of raised concentric circles and
at the center is a simple five pointed star in a circle.
There are no other markings. Does anyone know more
about this one ??? Who made it, and How old is it ???
This one is a total mystery to me. I'd never heard of a
plastic Duncan Rainbow, and then Mark sent me this
picture. It's a standard Flambeau Duncan butterfly, with
the printed design on the sides ... Similar to the Duncan
Batman Butterfly. This may be a European Duncan. If
so, in what countries were they sold ??? Were these
ever sold in the US ??? And when were they made ???
I'd love to find one of these for my collection !!!
This one may be another International variation from
Duncan. At a glance, it looks exactly like the opaque
colored Duncan Butterflies sold in the US in the early
70's. But look closely ... It says "Gold Wings" instead
of "Butterfly". Also, the "Made in U.S.A." is missing.
This was found by a Canadian collector near the US
border. In Canada, the term "Yo-Yo" is trademarked,
but is
there some reason Duncan couldn't use the word
"Butterfly" as well ??? Does anyone know more about
this unusual yo-yo ??? When was it made, and why it
isn't a "Butterfly" ???
Aside from the name, I don't know anything about this
yo-yo. It's a plastic yo-yo with a metal axle. Glitter is
embedded in the plastic, just like the Duncan Gold
Award. What company made this yo-yo, and how old
is it ??? Help me solve this mystery ... Click on the
picture for a better look.
Another interesting collector's yo-yo from Tom Kuhn.
I wish I'd bought one when I had the chance. This one
was sold several years back as a reproduction of a
classic Champion Yo-Yo. While I do know about
Champion Yo-Yos, I've never heard of this model.
From the design, it looks like the original may have
been a hand-carved yo-yo. Does anyone know the
story about this yo-yo ??? Does anyone have an
original Champion yo-yo like this one ???
That concludes Dave's Mysteries of Yo !!! Please let me know if you have any information that will help solve some of these yo-yo mysteries.
Please contact me if you have anything for sale, either by E-mail , regular mail, or by phone. I'm always looking for more yo-yos and memorabilia to add to my collection.
Click here to return to the Informal Guide to Dave's Mysteries of Yo.
This page was created by :
David W. Hall, "The Yo-Yo Collector"
E-mail : whistler42@swcp.com
Dave's Mysteries of Yo
Last Updated : November 24, 1996
