Collectiblog

This past November, the toy industry lost one of its most distinguished members. Betty James, the woman who named and popularized the “Slinky,” passed away at age 90, after over a half-decade of promoting one of the most popular toys in history.

It all started in 1943 when Navy engineer Richard James was trying to find a way to stabilize ship’s instruments while at sea. After seeing a spring fall off a shelf in his office, he observed the way it bounced and came up with a way to replicate it in a walking toy.

A couple of years later, the Slinky made its debut at Gimbels department store with resounding success. Betty James took over James Industries in 1960, when her husband opted out of the business world. Taking a major risk and mortgaging of her home, Betty brought the Slinky to the New York Toy Fair -- where it became a national hit in 1963.

Not long after the toy fair, Slinky hit the airwaves with its unforgettable TV commercial and jingle “It’s Slinky, it’s Slinky….for fun it’s a wonderful toy…” and has been a staple of toy collections ever since.

As the toy became a multi-million-unit selling product, several variations were added to the Slinky roster. Slinky Mobile, Slinky Train and Slinky Dog were some of the first emerged using Slinky at its core. Slinky Caterpillar and Slinky Snail were also added to the roster along with Slinky Elephant, Slinky Hippo and Slinky Frog. There was even a Slinky Soldiers set with a group of flat, printed soldiers who marched along attached to wheels and a spring. Along the way, there were also Slinky Seal, Slinky Worm and Slinky Kitten as well.

Slinky was also released in a variety of colors as well as a rainbow Slinky. In the ‘70s, they were manufactured in plastic as well as the original steel, for a kinder, gentler Slinky. In 1995, the Slinky Dog experienced a revival with a starring role in the movie Toy Story and in 1999, the U.S. post office commemorated the walking spring with its own postage stamp. Today there are a number of Slinkys available from plain old Retro Slinky and Retro Slinky Dog to the new, educational Slinky Science kits.

The original Slinky sold for $1, and came in a small square box. Today, 300 million Slinkys later, the same toy comes in a very similar box for the cost of around $4. In 1990, a national poll was taken which revealed that 89 percent of people recognized the Slinky name or jingle, proving that it is true: “Everyone knows it’s Slinky.”

Which Slinky did you own?