Modern Yo-Yo

The yo-yo’s commonly recounted “Philippine weapon and hunting tool” origin story is based on myth and misinformation, likely a result of overenthusiastic marketing (the toy’s actually a few millennia old). This is clear, however: The modern yo-yo, as we know and call it today, did indeed come from the Philippines!

Pedro Flores, a Filipino immigrant in the USA, created the first modern commercial yo-yo!

1928-1932

Although patents for similar toys existed, Pedro Flores got a U.S. patent for the design that featured the Philippine innovation of using a looped slip-string around the axle (allowing for tricks) that he played with in his youth. He called it the yo-yo, and started the Yo-yo Manufacturing Company in 1928.

Made of wood, the yo-yos were a success. He sold the company, patent and trademark rights to Donald F. Duncan, Sr., creating the famous Duncan Toy Company, the transfer finalized in 1932.

Additional Notes

Many of the sources claim that yo-yo is a Tagalog (or Ilocano, depending on the source) term for “come come” or “to return.” As speakers of Filipino, a modern version of Tagalog, this claim was problematic. KNOW.ph’s research among speakers of Tagalog and Ilocano has found nothing to support this claim. So, unless proven otherwise, KNOW.ph considers this claim false and nothing more than marketing detritus that the sources never bothered to verify.

• Flames ‘N Games: Yo-yo beginner to Yo-yo pro
• The Harlow: Cut the Ribbon, Pedro Flores
• Museum of Yo-Yo History: History Of The Yo-Yo
•  Wikipedia
  • Duncan Toys Company
  • Pedro Flores (inventor)
  • Yo-yo

PHOTO: Pedro Flores. Public domain.

PHOTO: Yo-yo. Public domain.