When Was the Yo-Yo Invented?

Ancient History

• Artifacts and paintings depicting yo-yo-like objects date back to 500 B.C. in Greece. Yo-yos were also shown in paintings in ancient Egypt and China. In the 16th century, yo-yo-type objects were used in the Philippines. They were transported from these faraway spots to Europe and America throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.

Modern History

• In 1928, Filipino-American Pedro Flores first started a company called the Yo-yo Manufacturing Company, and he began selling yo-yos in the United States. A businessman named Donald Duncan bought the idea and company from Flores in 1929. He trademarked the name "yo-yo" in 1932. With advertising, the "yo-yo" became one of the biggest-selling toys in America in the 20th century and the word "yo-yo" is now a part of common culture and no longer trademarked.

Word Origin

• The word "yo-yo" means "come come" or "come back," and is from the Tagalog language in the Philippines.

Function

• The yo-yo of today's world is a toy. However, while some ancient forms of yo-yos were used as toys, they were also used as offerings to the gods in some cultures. They have also been used as weapons in the Philippines.

Types

• The ancient form of yo-yo was carved from a single piece of wood or crafted from terra-cotta. The inner axle that the string was tied to was stationary. Newer versions have a rotating axle that allows users to do tricks with their yo-yos, such as "walking the dog" or "sleeping."

Fun Fact

• Yo-yos have traveled to space in the space shuttles "Discovery" and "Atlantis." The physics of how a yo-yo works were discovered to be quite different in zero gravity.