Happy National Yo-Yo Day, celebrated every June 6 in honor of the birthday of Donald F. Duncan Sr., who made the toy a commercial success in the United States.

He was not the first, however, to market the toy in this country. That distinction goes to Pedro Flores, a busboy at a Santa Monica, Calif. hotel who began carving and selling the “bandalores” in 1927.

Two years later, his hobby occupied two Los Angeles factories to meet the demand for the new craze.

His new design revolutionized the toy (dubbed “yo-yo” in 1928). Previous models had the string attached to the axle, allowing only a monotonous up-and-down motion.

Flores looped the string around the axle, allowing the yo-yo to “sleep” (continue spinning at the end of the string). Further technological revisions, including using ball bearings, have allowed the yo-yo to sleep for more than 30 minutes with one flick of the wrist.

Flores’ toy attracted the attention of Duncan, an entrepreneur also responsible for giving us the Good Humor mobile ice cream franchises.

In 1930, Duncan staged a 30-day nationwide advertising campaign, complete with yo-yo contests throughout the country. During that month, the company sold three million yo-yos.

Sales dipped from the wood and labor shortages during World War II, but revived in 1947.

Duncan, who had purchased Flores’ company, maintained his competitive edge by trademarking the name “yo-yo.” In 1965, however, a federal court ruled “yo-yo” was a genercized term and disallowed the trademark. Duncan filed for bankruptcy shortly thereafter.

In 1968, Flambeau Plastics Company bought the Duncan name and has produced the yo-yos ever since.

The yo-yo most likely originated in China, though its first historical mention was a painting on a Greek vase in 500 B.C. depicting a youth playing with the toy.

QUIZ:

1. The yo-yo is believed to be the second oldest toy in human history. Which toy is the oldest?

2. How many different yo-yos are there in the world’s largest personal collection?

3. In what year was the first U.S. patent for a yo-yo granted?

4. Which president played a yo-yo at the Grand Ole Opry with country music legend Roy Acuff?

5. Who was found in contempt for playing with a yo-yo while giving congressional testimony?

6. How much does the most expensive retailed Duncan yo-yo cost?

7. What is the diameter of the world’s largest workable yo-yo?

8. Which comedian made his “Yo-Yo Man” debut on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”?

9. The yo-yo is listed as the second best-selling toy in history. Which toys round out the top five?

10. What is the highest number of revolutions per minute achieved with a yo-yo?

ANSWERS:

1. The doll.

2. 4,251. According to the Guinness World Records, “Guinness requires each yo-yo be written in a list (with model, manufacturer, shape and size). … It took Lucky (Meisenheimer) six months to write the list; he has more yo-yos than the record but he got tired.”

3. 1866.

4. Richard Nixon.

5. Abbie Hoffman.

6. $400.

7. 10 feet, 4 inches. The yo-yo weighs 897 pounds and is worked using a 187-ft. crane. It was made by students at Stockport College, England.

8. Tommy Smothers.

9. 1st, Barbie; 3rd, the Easy-Bake Oven; 4th, the Radio Flyer wagon; 5th, Silly Putty.

10. 14,300.