Duncan Toys Company

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The Duncan Toys Company is an American toy manufacturer best known for its yo-yos. In 1968 it became a division of Flambeau, Inc..[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The Duncan Toys Company was founded by Donald Duncan in 1929.

[edit] Yo-yo Product Line

  • The Imperial is the "classic" model that made Duncan famous; a fixed-axle plastic yo-yo in a traditional silhouette. Available in many colors, the Imperial is the "starter yo-yo" in the Duncan line.
  • The Butterfly is nearly as old as the Imperial, a fixed-axle plastic yo-yo in a butterfliy silhouette. Available in many colors, the Butterfly is another "starter yo-yo" in the Duncan line.
  • The BumbleBee is a plastic transaxle yo-yo with a midline silhouette. The Bumblebee has a take-apart construction and removable endcaps. Formerly known as the Turbo Bumblebee GT by Playmaxx (Duncan bought Playmaxx).
  • The Dragonfly is the same as the BumbleBee, but in a butterfly silhouette.
  • The Ballistic is a plastic take-apart yo-yo in a traditional silhouette, with ball-bearing transaxle in a take-apart design. Duncan's first transaxle, the Ballistic is also the most configurable, featuring ball weights that may be deployed towards the edge, to improve sleep ability, or towards the center, for improved looping. The removable endcaps and removable friction stickers are other features that may be configured.
  • The Avenger is a slim, plastic yo-yo made in a rim-weighted midline silhouette with bearing transaxle.
  • The Speed Beetle is a plastic take-apart yo-yo in a traditional silhouette, designed for looping. It has a ball-bearing transaxle in a take-apart design with adjustable gap and extra spacers.
  • The ProYo is a plastic take-apart yo-yo in a midline/modified silhouette. With a fixed wooden axle and removable end-caps, the ProYo is designed for intermediate looping play. Formerly manufactured by the ProYo Company.
  • The ProFire is a plastic transaxle yo-yo with removable endcaps in a modified/midline silhouette. Unlike other transaxles, the ProFire has a brass sleeve rotating around the axle. Formerly known as the Playmaxx ProFire.
  • The ProFly is the same as the ProYo, but in a butterfly silhouette
  • The Mosquito is an undersized plastic take-apart transaxle yo-yo, intended by Duncan as a "budget" entry-level transaxle yo-yo. Although equipped with friction stickers, it also has starbursts for a lesser friction source to enable sticker removal as a response adjustment.
  • The Flying Squirrel is an undersized plastic take-apart transaxle yo-yo, designed for speed and freehand play. Internal weights in the Flying Squirrel bring the sleep ability up to a regular-sized yo-yo in a smaller package. Each half comes apart with a screwdriver for weight adjustment or end-cap replacement.
  • The Throwmonkey is a plastic transaxle yo-yo in a butterfly silhouette. Primarily designed for string tricks, it has over-molded rubber edges for enhanced grip and a high rim weight than yo-yos like the Freehand. Usually packaged with a "superball" counterweight for freehand tricks, as well as an instructional CD-ROM.
  • The Flying Panda is a yo-yo designed for off-string tricks.

[edit] "Deluxe" Models

  • The FreeHand series are Duncan's high-end offering, designed for string tricks and freehand play. All FreeHand models are ball bearing transaxles in a butterfly silhouette
    • The FreeHand Zero
    • The Metal Zero is a FreeHand Zero, available in aluminum. Meant to be an affordable metal yo-yo, contrasted with the FreeHand MG.
    • The FreeHand MG is Duncan's most expensive yo-yo. Its butterfly silhouette is 99.5% forged magnesium, with a ceramic transaxle bearing. Limited quantites are manufactured per year (200 of each color). The FreeHand MG ships with an assortment of counterweights and friction stickers.
  • Another high-end offering, the Mondial is a slim, aluminum nonslip twist-adjustable ball-bearing transaxle yo-yo- its gap may be adjusted by twisting the halves, but in .023mm increments in a "locking" system intended to prevent coming out of adjustment during play. The rim-weighted "raised positive grip" and rubber O-ring outer rim liner make the Mondial easier to handle. In addition, an "injection system" injects lubricant from a reservoir into the transaxle during play.

[edit] Discontinued models

  • the Cold Fusion was a high-end yo-yo made from aluminum in a transaxle with brake pads. It was claimed to be the World Record Holder for longest spin time at ten minutes.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Flambeau company history

[edit] External links