Wonder Loom
Wonder Loom® is a toy loom used to create colorful bracelets and charms by weaving rubber bands together into Brunnian links. It was designed in 2013 by Choon's Designs LLC of Wixom, Michigan[1] and licensed to The Beadery® Craft Products in Hope Valley, Rhode Island as the exclusive manufacturer.
Description
The Wonder Loom® is a plastic pegboard style loom measuring 2.25 inches (57 mm) by 11.75 inches (298 mm) with 3 rows of 13 pegs each. Colorful elastics are placed on the pins and then looped using a hooked picking tool. This produces strings of interconnected loops called Brunnian links, which depending on the pattern used, forms jewelry, headbands, keychains, action figures[1] or other shapes when removed.
The Wonder Loom® kit includes a loom, which features patented channels and flanges to make the looping easier, a picking tool, C-clip fasteners and an assortment of 600 rubber bands.[2]
History
The Wonder Loom® was created by Cheong Choon Ng, also the creator of the Rainbow Loom, when Wal-Mart and other retailers requested a made-in-the-USA version of the toy.[3] After reworking the loom to simplify the design, Ng licensed the Wonder Loom to The Beadery® Craft Products as the exclusive US manufacturer. The product hit the shelves at Wal-Mart stores on 8 November 2013 and shipped 150,000 units per week through the 2013 holiday season and into 2014.[4]
The Wonder Loom® has also inspired several instructional books to be published. These include:
Since its release, new products have been added to the line including new band colors and assortments and beads and charms to attach to the bracelets. The Beadery® has also announced a smaller hand-held version called the HandyLoom™ and other new tools and accessories being revealed later in 2014.[2]
Gallery
- Some sample items made on the Wonder Loom
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Rose Bud Bracelets
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Beaded Bracelet & Ring
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kavanaugh, Catherine (15 December 2013). "Rainbow Loom's creator weaves success from playtime inspiration". Crain's Detroit Business.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Beadery Buzz: Wonder Loom Products". The Beadery. March 2014.
- ↑ Chesto, Jon (18 May 2014). "Here's how Wal-Mart helped a Mass. manufacturer add dozens of jobs". Boston Business Journal.
- ↑ Kavanaugh, Catherine (17 December 2013). "Inventor brings US business into loop with Wonder Loom". Plastic News.
- ↑ Wonder Loom: Bracelets and Things. Leisure Arts. 2013. ASIN B00H2XTYWS.
- ↑ Rubber Band Loom Crafts. Leisure Arts. 14 January 2014. ASIN B00HVJG84U.
- ↑ Wonder Loom: Beyond the Basics. Leisure Arts. 2014.