Yo-Yo’s: How They Have Changed From Yesteryear To Today

1960s Comeback 

Declining sales after the Second World War inspired Duncan to launch a comeback campaign for his trademarked “Yo-Yo” in 1962 with a series of television advertisements.

In a trademark case in 1965, a federal court’s appeals ruled in favor of the Royal Tops Company, determining that yo-yo had become a part of common speech and that Duncan no longer had exclusive rights to the term. As a result of the expenses incurred by this legal battle as well as other financial pressures, the Duncan family sold the company name and associated trademarks in 1968 to Flambeau, Inc, who had manufactured Duncan’s plastic models since 1955.

In 1962, Duncan had 32 demonstrators on the road whom it claimed were “World Yo-Yo Champions” of which many had never actually entered any yo-yo contest.

How about Yo-Yo’s in the 1970s? How about the 80’s and onward? Click “Next” to find out.