Dave's Memorabilia Funhouse
Just what is Yo-Yo Memorabilia ??? Basically, it's anything that has
to do with yo-yos but isn't one. This includes Contest Patches, String
Packages, Trick Books, Trick Sheets, Display Boxes, Posters, Store Signs,
Store Displays, Toy Store Catalogs, Advertising, Stickers, Buttons, Ribbons,
Badges, Trophies, Plaques, Shirts, Sweaters, Jackets, Caps, Iron On Patches,
and things like video performances and autographs. I even have a blank
piece of stationary and a mailing label from the old Duncan Company in
Luck, Wisconsin. There are also toys and decorations that involve yo-yos.
For example, I've seen pictures of a "Yo-Yo Playing Bear", which is a tin
mechanical toy that swings a yo-yo. There's also a Hallmark Christmas ornament
from a few years back of a mouse playing with a yo-yo. All of these things
are Yo-Yo Related Memorabilia.
The items above picture other pieces of memorabilia. The first is the
back cover of the "Art of Yo-Yo Playing" Duncan trickbook from the 50's.
It shows some of the prizes that could be won in the Duncan Yo-Yo contests,
including bikes, trophies, sweaters, patches, caps, and prize yo-yos. The
second picture is the back cover of a California State Yo-Yo Contest brochure
from 1953. The boys are wearing award sweaters, with large contest patches.
Click on any of the pictures for a better look.
Yo-Yo Contest Patches
Yo-Yo Contest Patches are one of my favorite types of
memorabilia. These were usually awarded as prizes at yo-yo
contests. They were also given away as promotional items at
times. Most of the patches out there are from Duncan. But
several other companies also put them out, including Royal,
Ja-Do, Russell, Tom Kuhn, Bird In Hand, and Cheerio.
Remember, the Cheerio patches don't even say "Yo-Yo" ...
just something like "Cheerio Champion" or "Cheerio Award".
I'm looking for more contest patches from all of the yo-yo
companies, but especially from Cheerio and Ja-Do.
This Duncan patch is also pictured above on the back of the trickbook.
I'm looking for
one in better condition, because this one is stained. It measures about
2 1/2" by 4 1/2".
Dave's Most Wanted Patches
Here are some of the patches on my "Most Wanted" list. The Ja-Do and Cheerio
patches are probably at the very top of it. But for the most part, if it's
a Yo-Yo Related patch, I want it !!! I'm also trying to find a Duncan Giant
Eagle and Duncan Dated Shield Patch, which are shown above in the photo
of the three boys. If the patches are still attached to the sweaters, don't
remove them. I want the sweaters too !!!
-
Ja-Do Luck-E Champion Patch - This is a beautiful patch and Number One
on my want list. It's from the early 50's and measures 5" in diameter.
Ja-Do was an unpromoted line from Duncan.
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District Cheerio Champion Patch - I believe this is the patch that was
attached to Cheerio Award Sweaters. And probably given away separately
too. The patch is about 5" in diameter, and was a first place award at
higher levels of competition, late 40's to early 50's. I want one !!!
-
Cheerio Silver Award Patch - A second place award, again from the same
era. This one measures around 2" in diameter. I want to find a complete
set of these !!!
-
Cheerio Bronze Award Patch - The third place award from Cheerio, late 40's
to early 50's. It measures 2" in diameter. I wonder if there was a "Gold"
award as well.
-
Cheerio Junior Instructor Patch - Another Cheerio patch from the late 40's
to early 50's. It measures about 1 3/4" High by 4 1/4" Wide. Duncan also
awarded several different "Junior Instructor" Patches. A great promotional
idea ... to encourage the winners to teach others, and sell more Yo-Yos
!!!
-
Duncan 1950 Winged Expert Patch - This two-winged patch measures 3" High
by about 6" Wide. A beautiful dated patch ... I love the bright colors
!!! And Wing Patches are so Cool !!! Help me find one of these.
-
Duncan Giant Eagle Champion Patch - I think the Giant Eagle patch only
came attached to Duncan Award Sweaters in the mid 50's. It measures 8"
High by 7" Wide, and isn't the typical embroidered patch ... it has a soft,
towel like texture. Beautiful colors too !!! Attached to a sweater or not,
I really want one !!!
-
Duncan 1951 Dated Shield Patch - I've seen these with dates ranging from
the late 40's to the late 50's, and in different sizes, but with the same
design. This one measures 5 3/4" High by 5" Wide. Notice the small ribbon
that's attached ... very unusual !!!
-
National Yo-Yo Champion Patch - This is a Canadian patch, won in a National
Yo-Yo Contest in Vancouver in 1972. It came attached to a red Award T-shirt.
It measures 5 1/4" High by 5 3/8" Wide. Really Cool, huh ?!? I'm looking
for more Canadian and International Items !!! This one included !!!
Dated Patches
Most Duncan Patches from the late 40's and early 50's were dated. It's
nice to know the age at a glance !!! I'm looking for a large dated Shield
"Winner" patch from this era.
-
1953 Duncan District Champion Star - This patch is 5 1/2" High by 6" Wide.
Being a District patch, it must have been awarded at higher competition
levels.
-
1951 Duncan Skill Award - This one is 3" High by 4 1/2" Wide. I'm not sure
at what level these were awarded ... Maybe even as a "Booby Prize." I'm
looking for more winged patches, including the double winged Junior Instructor
Patch.
-
1994 National Championship - It's 5" in diameter. These were made for the
Nationals in Chico, CA by Bird in Hand Yo-Yos. They make some Incredible
stuff !!!
Shield and Eagle Patches
Shield and Eagle Patches are two of the more common designs. These vary
in size ... usually the larger the patch, the older it is. The largest
ones from Duncan were made from the late 40's through the 50's. Help me
find a Dated Shield and a 50's Giant Duncan Eagle Patch.
-
Bonomo's Turkish Taffy Winner - It's 4 1/2" High by 4" Wide, from the mid
50's. The top portion is sewn on. Bonomo's was obviously the sponsor of
that contest. I've also seen a similar one with Coca Cola on the top. I
want one of those !!!
-
Duncan Champion - This patch is 3" High by 3" Wide, and is from the 60's.
-
1993 National Championship - This was again made by Bird in Hand Yo-Yos
for the Nationals in Chico, CA, in 1993. It's 6 " High by 5 " Wide.
-
Duncan Champion Eagle - This is the smaller version, 4 3/4" High by 4"
Wide. Click on the picture and you can also view the Spin Top version of
this patch. There are several larger sizes, one with 5 stars instead of
3, and also a version that says "Return Top" after "Yo-Yo." The largest
one is 8" by 7". I'd like to find all of the variations.
-
Royal Champion Eagle - This one is about 4" by 4", and an example of how
Royal often "mimicked" Duncan's best ideas. The Spin Top version can also
be viewed through this link.
Mr. Yo-Yo, the Duncan yo-yo man, says, "Dave loves
old Yo-Yo Patches and String Packs. If you have any
for sale or for trade, E-mail Dave
immediately, if not
sooner !!! If you prefer to call or write, you'll find Dave's
address and phone number at the bottom of this page,
and on the main page."
Dave's Most Wanted String Packs
Actually, there are many string packages I'd like to find. Some are completely
different prints and others are color variations of some of these. But
the three shown here come to mind first. I'd also would really like to
find Goody or Jewel string packs, but don't have a decent picture of either
to post right now.
-
Duncan Genuine Gold Seal - This may be the first string pack from Duncan
in the early 30's. Notice the primitive graphic of the boy with the yo-yos,
the large globe in the picture, and the price, 2 for 5 cents.
-
Duncan Genuine Gold Seal - I think this is one of the first string packs
from the 30's. Notice the large globe in the picture and the price, 2 for
5 cents. Click on the picture and you can also see a red color variation
of this pack.
-
Official Cheerio - This is from the 50's. I'm especially looking for this
Cheerio string pack, with the boy yo-yoing, but there may be others too.
Duncan String Packs
Here are some of the string packs from Duncan. All of the ones shown here
are from the old Duncan Company. Flambeau also put out several glassine
envelope string packs.
-
Duncan Genuine Gold Seal - Another early string pack. Although it says
"Copyright 1937", I believe these were a late 40's to 50's pack. They are
more common than the other Gold Seal packs shown above. Notice the small
globe and the price, 2 for 5 cents. I think there are other color variations
as well.
-
Duncan Super Cord - I think this is from the late 50's. Similar in design
to the eagle patches. On the back, you can order the "New" Duncan Imperial
... Cool, Huh !?!
-
Duncan Mr Yo-Yo - This is the horizontal version. There are many color
variations, including pink, red, orange and light blue. Another early 60's
string pack.
-
Royal Yo-Yo Cords No. 310 - This pack is from late in Royal's history,
probably the mid 70's. Notice the red yo-yo ... there is also a version
with a black yo-yo.
-
Royal Champion Tops Trick Strings - This is an early 50's string pack and
one of my favorites. It shows "Two Famous Filipino" Champions, Radovan
and Reyes. Click on the image for a better look... the small image doesn't
do it justice.
-
Genuine Hi-Ker Strings - Hi-Ker was the unpromoted yo-yo line from Cheerio
in the late 40's and early 50's. A very interesting string pack.
-
Cheerio Super Twist - I believe this is a Canadian string pack for Cheerio.
I can only guess at the date ... probably late 50's.
-
National Replacement Strings - This is a Canadian company. National was
bought out by Parker and then Canada Games. The pack is most likely from
the 60's. Notice the text is in both English and French.
-
Twin Twirler Replacement Strings - These are for the Kusan Twin Twirler
Yo-Yos. The pack is from the 60's.
-
Will Dave achieve his goal, and finally have more yo-yos
than the kid in the picture ???
-
Will Dave then have to call 911 to dig him out after he
gets more yo-yos than the kid in the picture ???
-
Can Dave buy ALL of the yo-yos and yo-yo stuff in the
World, so no one else can have any ???
-
Can Dave build an international business dynasty and
obtain world yo-yo domination ???
-
Can Dave save the Earth by tying a string to it and
keeping it from flying off into space ???
-
Will Dave finally lose his mind completely and turn into
the world's biggest yo-yo ??? ( If he isn't already !!! )
For the answers to these and other mind-blowing questions, click
here to view the awesome and earth-shattering conclusion in .....
Dave's Memorabilia Funhouse, Part One
Last Updated : February 16, 2002
