Ups and Downs of Yo-yos by Wendy Santos CC0043


Yo-yos just like the life has had its ups and downs. According to the text book first Yo-yos were invented in Greece 500 B.C., and were made of painted terracotta, wood and metal. The next trace was found in Mexico for the A.D. 700 among the Mayas culture. In 1765 in India, in a miniature box was found the image of a girl playing with a jeweled yoyo. In 1791 a painting shows King Louis XVIII playing with a yoyo.

More than just a toy it was used in different manners: like symbol of wealth in Europe and a tool to fight the stress and calm the anxiety.

Came to the USA in 1815, by two men from Ohio who took patents, but to the 20th Century it losts its appeal in North America and Europe.

In 1920 a Filipino named Pedro Flores invented a wooden new yoyo that was'nt tied to the axle, fact that made possible the performance of different tricks like "rock the baby", "brain twister" and "wald the dog". 1929 Pedro Flores sold the patent to Donald F. Duncan, entrepeneu and inventor of the parking meter.

Through publicity campaigns and demonstrations Duncan grew the succes of the Yoyo in the USA, making Wisconsin the Yo-yo's capital.