Slinky
Fun Fact
Ever wondered how the iconic children’s toy the slinky was invented? By accident of course!
In 1943, Naval engineer Richard T. Jones was trying to create a meter that would monitor power levels on battleships and springs to keep this sensitive equipment steady while at sea. He dropped a tension spring he was working with, and it "walked" when it hit the ground. Soon, the slinky was born! It was demonstrated at a Gimbels department store in Philadelphia, PA, selling out in just 90 minutes.
From there, its popularity skyrocketed, and millions of units were sold. In 2000, it was even inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, and in 2003, it was named to the Toy Industry Association’s “Century of Toys” list, the top 100 most memorable and creative toys of the 20th century!
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- Natasha Matta