Hobbies And Interests
The Origins
The Slinky toy was invented by naval engineer Richard James. He was inspired in 1943 when he saw a tension spring fall onto the ground and continue moving forward on its own. James experimented with different types and gauges of metal until coming up with a finished product in 1945. His wife, Betty, named the new invention "Slinky," which is the Swedish word for "traespiral, or sleek and sinuous."
The Debut
Richard and Betty James used a $500 loan to hire a company to manufacture the first small batch of Slinky toys. They were originally distributed to several Philadelphia stores, but they did not sell because customers did not understand exactly what the toy did. A demonstration at Gimbel's Department Store just before Christmas in 1945 changed the fortunes of the company forever. Over the course of James' 90-minute demonstration, he sold his entire stock of 400 Slinkys.
The James Spring and Wire Company
Once sales of the Slinky began to take off, Richard James quit his naval job to establish the James Spring and Wire Company. He continued manufacturing the Slinky through the 1950s, seeing increased sales throughout the decade. Even today, the original equipment James designed is still being used to produce Slinky toys at the Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, factory.
Betty James' Ownership
In 1960, Richard James left his family and business to join a Bolivian religious group. He had saddled the company with numerous debts because of contributions to his religion. Betty took over the company, changed the name to James Industries and worked to get the company profitable again. It was during this time that the well-known Slinky advertising jingle was created. The Toy Industry Hall of Fame recognized Betty's accomplishments by inducting her into its membership in 2001.
The 1990s and Beyond
Betty James sold the Slinky product line to American toymaker Poof Toys in 1998. Today, there are a variety of Slinky toys on the market, from the smaller-sized Slinky Jr. to a neon plastic version. The Slinky was designated as one of the top 10 toys of the 20th Century by both the Discovery Channel and the History Channel. In 1999, the U.S. Postal Service recognized the Slinky's place in American culture by putting it on a set of 1999 commemorative postage stamps.