Yos I Own

Yos I Own!

Here are some of my yos. I will add pictures and descriptions of more as time allows. Enjoy yourself and for god sakes, if you have any yos you are getting rid of ... let me know!

My oldest Duncan yo, this is a late-'40s, early-'50s Beginners Model #44. It is wood, two color (black and red) and has a gold stamped logo with the little "G" in the word Genuine. Here is a closeup of the logo. This yo is in very good shape for being almost 60 years old! I really scored this super cheap in a package lot, so I am doubly psyched to own it!

Another of my oldest Duncan yos, this is a late-'40s, early-'50s Beginners Model #33. It also is wood, two color (though green and red) and has a gold stamped logo with the little "G" in the word Genuine. The #33 Beginners is a smaller size than the standard 2 1/4" yo. Here are the two side by each. Great early Duncan to further round out the collection.

This is my 75th Anniversary Duncan Jeweled Tournament Classic. They did a limited run of 25,000 of these reproductions and stamped a serial number under the four stones on the back. Mine is # 02140. This Duncan reissue is a sweet version of one of their most classic and sought after designs and this was one that I always wanted. Black with four jewels and gold foil lettering on the front, four jewels and serial number on the back. Originally only given to tournament contestants as a prize, the early models are few and far between. Duncan eventually started selling them as their top of the line yo in the mid-'50s. I am sick for jeweled yos. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.

This is my 75th Anniversary Super Tournament reissue. I love the classic solid color with fade stripe graphics of this yo. Originals from the '50s are bringing triple digit sums, but this reissue is ok with me for the $5.95 it cost. I wanted green or blue, so I am happy with the color. The quality of the finish is not that great though, they didn't seal the grain before painting, which makes it look a little porous. But even still, I have one now. The reproductions are even made from one piece of wood, just like the originals. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.

This is my 75th Anniversary Imperial reissue in transparent red. This was the original logo, inspired by the Chrysler Imperial belonging to a Duncan management member of the mid-'50s. Here is the logo in closeup. I wanted red, and held out until I found one. The Imperial was Duncan's first plastic yo and with the Butterfly, the most famous. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.

Here is my original late-'50s Chevron Imperial in red. The logo is pretty worn on this yo, so it was obviously well used. But it is an original, and I got it for less than a buck, so I am pleased. It is nice to have as a comparison with the 75th Anniversary model above.

This is my late-'50s Chevron Imperial in white. The earlier Imperials had the word "Tenite" in the logo, as that was the name of the plastic used to make the yos of that era. They dropped the word in '58 or so, and from then until about 1962 used this logo.

My early-'60s Duncan Imperial in Emerald Green. The Chevron was on its way out as the new fleur de lys came into use, but both were offered in '62 and '63.This is the best combination of color and logo design for the transparent Imps that I've owned. Back before Duncan took the "YO-YO" trademark off their products and sold it to National in the '70s.

Another one of my Duncan Imperials. This one is a mid-'70s solid color. White with a Hamm's Beer Bear on the back. Must have been a promotional item at one point. Not perfect, but it is a Duncan yo nonetheless ... and involves beer. Good combo in my opinion.

Still another one of my Duncan Imperials. This one is a late-'70s solid color. Yellow with "Big Yella" on the back. This was a cereal premium offered in '79 from Kellogg's Corn Pops feturing the yellow clad, blonde haired cowpoke. The red ink on the yellow yo is a very odd color combination, but it works for me. I had a dupe of this that I gave to Brother Bill for his burgeoning yo collection, he's up to five!

Yet another of my Duncan Imperials. This one is a green late-'70s with the "Original - World's #1" text under the logo. When they moved from the "Made in U.S.A." text I am not sure, but it must have been around '78. You can see that the Imperial name is in a different font than that of the '90s orange Imp below. And I like the older '60s fleur de lys logo better personally.

A mid-'90s Duncan Imperial in orange. This is the umpteenth one of these I've owned. Since they're so common, the modern ones are not really too collectible, and likely won't be in the future due to the number of them that are produced. But they are a good choice for a simple, well balanced, metal axle yo.

How about three more '70s Duncan Imperials in the packages just to round out the Imp selection? Yellow, blue and red ... "Hey kiddies, collect them all!"

A well loved '60s Glow Imperial that I picked up online. This is the original with the fluorescent orange text and small burst logo. I always thought that Duncan could have done much better with the logo design for the Glow, but they never did. The modern version is more attractive, but the Moose Power Glow 3000 logo rocks way harder.

Another Glow Imperial, but this time from the early '90s and with good ol' Snap, Crackle and Pop on the back. Kind of scuffed up, but it came in a lot for next to nothing and you know I always welcome stry yos into the collection ...

This is my 75th Anniversary Duncan Butterfly reissue. Another of the retro yos that Duncan brought out in '03, mine is in blue. The original Duncan Butterfly was first released around 1956 (although a short-lived version called the FlatTop came out in '54) and the reversed halves made string catch tricks much simpler--ever try to do Double or Nothing with an Imperial? For the first ten years of production all Butterflies were wood. The first plastic models rolled off the line in '67 or so. The Butterfly logo has changed a lot over the years. I'd still like to own an original and would KILL for a FlatTop!

This is my late-'60s Duncan Butterfly. It is the classic red/white/yellow color scheme many will remember, this one with red and yellow side panels. I still have a scar on my forehead from trying the "Shoot the Moon" trick with one of these back in the day. This is a classic that no modern era collector is without. Here is the banana yellow back.

Another late-'60s Duncan Butterfly. This one with white and yellow side panels. The first plastic butterfly model had a smaller butterfly with the words around it. I am searching for a good example of one to add to the collection.

My circa 1970 Duncan Butterfly. This was the short lived "psychedelic" model with the Peter Marx-esque artwork for the logo. Here is a closeup of the logo. I stole this from Danny Partridge's bass case back in '71.

This is a modern version of a true classic; the Duncan Butterfly. I have had several solid color versions of these over the years, but when I saw this one in transparent orange, it reminded me of a Monarch Butterfly, so I bought it.

My early-'60s Duncan Mardi Gras in pink with long silver glitter. In very good condition, this is my most prized yo. The Mardi Gras yos were clear or translucent plastic with bits of colored plastic, glitter, stars, etc. molded into the halves. Each one is unique. Finding one with a good Mardi Gras logo is tough, but this one rocks. Most of the Mardi Gras yos have some voids from the molding process, and this one has a few, but it is still rockin'. Check out the back. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.

My other early-'60s Duncan Mardi Gras, this time in gray with long gold glitter. The body of this one is in bettter shape than the pink one above, but the logo was sstamped off-center slightly, so it was not a clean strike. Still, it is a Mardi Gras, so it rocks Nettick. Here is the back, which really shows how crazy the Mardi Gras yos were.

My 1960s Duncan Gold Award. In near mint condition, this is another one of my most prized yos. The combination of the transparent gold plastic with gold glitter and the great championship cup logo make this one a great yo. These were made from a very hard, heavy plastic back then that is so much better than the modern Duncan's it isn't funny. I picked this and a few others up online from a well known yo master out west, and some were even used by him at demos back in the day.

A Disney Wonderful World of Color Butterfly without side panels? This funky thing came in a lot I picked up for next to nothing. It is old and funky, but it sure looks like the World of Color halves I have for display purposes. Too bad there are no side panels on it, but it is still cool to look at and a good one for the collection.

Super Fly! My 1972 purple Duncan Velvet yo. Man, this thing just screams the '70s, no? Like, dig, this was the yo that Huggy Bear had in the pocket of his purple velour pimp suit on the pilot episode of Starsky & Hutch! This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.

My mid-'70s Duncan Professional. This one is in deep blue transparent with clear side panels with the diamond logo and name under. I never was too enamored with the thin width of these, but it is one for the collection anyway.

My late-'70s Duncan World Class. A heavy, modified butterfly with rim weighted design. In near mint shape, this is a great yo and a wicked sleeper. Great for string mount tricks too. One of the panels pops open so you can store spare strings in it. I guess that is what makes it a Professional model?! I really like these and wanted one for years. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.

My late-'70s Duncan Jewel. Always love the jeweled yos and the white, non-animal Jewels are my favorite. Here is the other side showing the contrasting color jewel. I had one as a kid with a green on one side and a red on the other, which was cool as it had the whole port & starboard thing going. Long gone now though, unfortunately. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.

My mid-'70s Duncan Special. This is the old style, heavy and hard plastic Special from the '60s and '70s. With a metal axle narrow string gap (!) and featuring the older Special logo that always reminded me of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Special is now a discontinued Duncan model, but this one is no looker. I picked it up for under a buck just to have one of this example. When I get a better one (which shouldn't be too hard) I'll give it a proper burial.

Another mid-'70s Duncan Special. This one is the red. Once I score a decent copy, this may just join the yellow one in the crypt.

My Duncan Midnight Special. This is essentially a black Imperial with silver foil lettering and a cool logo. I had one of these when I was a kid that is somewhere on the bottom of Rockland harbor. The string broke when I was doing a clover leaf and it shot out fifty feet or so from the dock I was standing on. Oh well, I got another one now and am not planning on yoing off docks any time soon.

A Duncan Neo in safety orange. Nothing special about these, just an Imperial shape in bright neon colors, but I had to have one for the collection. And at $2.50 how can I say no?

My 1965 Duncan Bo-Yo AMF Amflite bowling ball yo. This is the coolest collectible logo yo I own. It is a little yo-yo sized bowling ball that is a fully functional yo. Very cool and very cheaply purchased. Check out the back!

My 1984 D.H. Duncan Pro-Spin Olympian. This is a great historical yo. Donald F. Duncan Sales and Promotions released a line of yo-yos in 1984. Not a Playmaxx product, even though Don Duncan owned Playmaxx at the time. Since the release coincided with the '84 Los Angeles games, this model was named in their honor. A cool transparent turquoise color rim weighted with clear panels and a torch logo. A great collector's yo, it loops pretty nice too!

Some of my yo ephemera. This is a modern Duncan yo trick book that came with certain yos in the early '90s. I don't think they ship with this anymore. I would love to get some more old yo printed material, but it has already started fetching stupid money on the net. Oh well, I should have saved all that packaging I ripped up and tossed back in the day!

Here is the retro package art of the 75th Anniversary Butterfly models are shipped on. I have the same for my Jeweled Pro and my Tournament Pro. They are cool items for the collection.

Another shot, this time of the entire package card of my 75th Anniversary Imperial. It is interesting that they show the fleur de lys in the artwork, which would soon become the Imp's logo perminently as the chevron was replaced. I like the '60s fleur de lys logo personally.

Back to YO!

	Here are some of my yos. I will add pictures and descriptions of more as time allows. Enjoy yourself and for god sakes, if you have any yos you are getting rid of ... let me know!
	My oldest Duncan yo, this is a late-'40s, early-'50s Beginners Model #44. It is wood, two color (black and red) and has a gold stamped logo with the little "G" in the word Genuine. Here is a closeup of the logo. This yo is in very good shape for being almost 60 years old! I really scored this super cheap in a package lot, so I am doubly psyched to own it!
	Another of my oldest Duncan yos, this is a late-'40s, early-'50s Beginners Model #33. It also is wood, two color (though green and red) and has a gold stamped logo with the little "G" in the word Genuine. The #33 Beginners is a smaller size than the standard 2 1/4" yo. Here are the two side by each. Great early Duncan to further round out the collection.
	This is my 75th Anniversary Duncan Jeweled Tournament Classic. They did a limited run of 25,000 of these reproductions and stamped a serial number under the four stones on the back. Mine is # 02140. This Duncan reissue is a sweet version of one of their most classic and sought after designs and this was one that I always wanted. Black with four jewels and gold foil lettering on the front, four jewels and serial number on the back. Originally only given to tournament contestants as a prize, the early models are few and far between. Duncan eventually started selling them as their top of the line yo in the mid-'50s. I am sick for jeweled yos. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.
	This is my 75th Anniversary Super Tournament reissue. I love the classic solid color with fade stripe graphics of this yo. Originals from the '50s are bringing triple digit sums, but this reissue is ok with me for the $5.95 it cost. I wanted green or blue, so I am happy with the color. The quality of the finish is not that great though, they didn't seal the grain before painting, which makes it look a little porous. But even still, I have one now. The reproductions are even made from one piece of wood, just like the originals. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.
	This is my 75th Anniversary Imperial reissue in transparent red. This was the original logo, inspired by the Chrysler Imperial belonging to a Duncan management member of the mid-'50s. Here is the logo in closeup. I wanted red, and held out until I found one. The Imperial was Duncan's first plastic yo and with the Butterfly, the most famous. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.
	Here is my original late-'50s Chevron Imperial in red. The logo is pretty worn on this yo, so it was obviously well used. But it is an original, and I got it for less than a buck, so I am pleased. It is nice to have as a comparison with the 75th Anniversary model above.
	This is my late-'50s Chevron Imperial in white. The earlier Imperials had the word "Tenite" in the logo, as that was the name of the plastic used to make the yos of that era. They dropped the word in '58 or so, and from then until about 1962 used this logo.
	My early-'60s Duncan Imperial in Emerald Green. The Chevron was on its way out as the new fleur de lys came into use, but both were offered in '62 and '63.This is the best combination of color and logo design for the transparent Imps that I've owned. Back before Duncan took the "YO-YO" trademark off their products and sold it to National in the '70s.
	Another one of my Duncan Imperials. This one is a mid-'70s solid color. White with a Hamm's Beer Bear on the back. Must have been a promotional item at one point. Not perfect, but it is a Duncan yo nonetheless ... and involves beer. Good combo in my opinion.
	Still another one of my Duncan Imperials. This one is a late-'70s solid color. Yellow with "Big Yella" on the back. This was a cereal premium offered in '79 from Kellogg's Corn Pops feturing the yellow clad, blonde haired cowpoke. The red ink on the yellow yo is a very odd color combination, but it works for me. I had a dupe of this that I gave to Brother Bill for his burgeoning yo collection, he's up to five!
	Yet another of my Duncan Imperials. This one is a green late-'70s with the "Original - World's #1" text under the logo. When they moved from the "Made in U.S.A." text I am not sure, but it must have been around '78. You can see that the Imperial name is in a different font than that of the '90s orange Imp below. And I like the older '60s fleur de lys logo better personally.
	A mid-'90s Duncan Imperial in orange. This is the umpteenth one of these I've owned. Since they're so common, the modern ones are not really too collectible, and likely won't be in the future due to the number of them that are produced. But they are a good choice for a simple, well balanced, metal axle yo.
	How about three more '70s Duncan Imperials in the packages just to round out the Imp selection? Yellow, blue and red ... "Hey kiddies, collect them all!"
	A well loved '60s Glow Imperial that I picked up online. This is the original with the fluorescent orange text and small burst logo. I always thought that Duncan could have done much better with the logo design for the Glow, but they never did. The modern version is more attractive, but the Moose Power Glow 3000 logo rocks way harder.
	Another Glow Imperial, but this time from the early '90s and with good ol' Snap, Crackle and Pop on the back. Kind of scuffed up, but it came in a lot for next to nothing and you know I always welcome stry yos into the collection ...
	This is my 75th Anniversary Duncan Butterfly reissue. Another of the retro yos that Duncan brought out in '03, mine is in blue. The original Duncan Butterfly was first released around 1956 (although a short-lived version called the FlatTop came out in '54) and the reversed halves made string catch tricks much simpler--ever try to do Double or Nothing with an Imperial? For the first ten years of production all Butterflies were wood. The first plastic models rolled off the line in '67 or so. The Butterfly logo has changed a lot over the years. I'd still like to own an original and would KILL for a FlatTop!
	This is my late-'60s Duncan Butterfly. It is the classic red/white/yellow color scheme many will remember, this one with red and yellow side panels. I still have a scar on my forehead from trying the "Shoot the Moon" trick with one of these back in the day. This is a classic that no modern era collector is without. Here is the banana yellow back.
	Another late-'60s Duncan Butterfly. This one with white and yellow side panels. The first plastic butterfly model had a smaller butterfly with the words around it. I am searching for a good example of one to add to the collection.
	My circa 1970 Duncan Butterfly. This was the short lived "psychedelic" model with the Peter Marx-esque artwork for the logo. Here is a closeup of the logo. I stole this from Danny Partridge's bass case back in '71.
	This is a modern version of a true classic; the Duncan Butterfly. I have had several solid color versions of these over the years, but when I saw this one in transparent orange, it reminded me of a Monarch Butterfly, so I bought it.
	My early-'60s Duncan Mardi Gras in pink with long silver glitter. In very good condition, this is my most prized yo. The Mardi Gras yos were clear or translucent plastic with bits of colored plastic, glitter, stars, etc. molded into the halves. Each one is unique. Finding one with a good Mardi Gras logo is tough, but this one rocks. Most of the Mardi Gras yos have some voids from the molding process, and this one has a few, but it is still rockin'. Check out the back. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.
	My other early-'60s Duncan Mardi Gras, this time in gray with long gold glitter. The body of this one is in bettter shape than the pink one above, but the logo was sstamped off-center slightly, so it was not a clean strike. Still, it is a Mardi Gras, so it rocks Nettick. Here is the back, which really shows how crazy the Mardi Gras yos were.
	My 1960s Duncan Gold Award. In near mint condition, this is another one of my most prized yos. The combination of the transparent gold plastic with gold glitter and the great championship cup logo make this one a great yo. These were made from a very hard, heavy plastic back then that is so much better than the modern Duncan's it isn't funny. I picked this and a few others up online from a well known yo master out west, and some were even used by him at demos back in the day.
	A Disney Wonderful World of Color Butterfly without side panels? This funky thing came in a lot I picked up for next to nothing. It is old and funky, but it sure looks like the World of Color halves I have for display purposes. Too bad there are no side panels on it, but it is still cool to look at and a good one for the collection.
	Super Fly! My 1972 purple Duncan Velvet yo. Man, this thing just screams the '70s, no? Like, dig, this was the yo that Huggy Bear had in the pocket of his purple velour pimp suit on the pilot episode of Starsky & Hutch! This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.
	My mid-'70s Duncan Professional. This one is in deep blue transparent with clear side panels with the diamond logo and name under. I never was too enamored with the thin width of these, but it is one for the collection anyway.
	My late-'70s Duncan World Class. A heavy, modified butterfly with rim weighted design. In near mint shape, this is a great yo and a wicked sleeper. Great for string mount tricks too. One of the panels pops open so you can store spare strings in it. I guess that is what makes it a Professional model?! I really like these and wanted one for years. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.
	My late-'70s Duncan Jewel. Always love the jeweled yos and the white, non-animal Jewels are my favorite. Here is the other side showing the contrasting color jewel. I had one as a kid with a green on one side and a red on the other, which was cool as it had the whole port & starboard thing going. Long gone now though, unfortunately. This yo started on my Yos to Get list, and has now moved to this list.
	My mid-'70s Duncan Special. This is the old style, heavy and hard plastic Special from the '60s and '70s. With a metal axle narrow string gap (!) and featuring the older Special logo that always reminded me of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Special is now a discontinued Duncan model, but this one is no looker. I picked it up for under a buck just to have one of this example. When I get a better one (which shouldn't be too hard) I'll give it a proper burial.
	Another mid-'70s Duncan Special. This one is the red. Once I score a decent copy, this may just join the yellow one in the crypt.
	My Duncan Midnight Special. This is essentially a black Imperial with silver foil lettering and a cool logo. I had one of these when I was a kid that is somewhere on the bottom of Rockland harbor. The string broke when I was doing a clover leaf and it shot out fifty feet or so from the dock I was standing on. Oh well, I got another one now and am not planning on yoing off docks any time soon.
	A Duncan Neo in safety orange. Nothing special about these, just an Imperial shape in bright neon colors, but I had to have one for the collection. And at $2.50 how can I say no?
	My 1965 Duncan Bo-Yo AMF Amflite bowling ball yo. This is the coolest collectible logo yo I own. It is a little yo-yo sized bowling ball that is a fully functional yo. Very cool and very cheaply purchased. Check out the back!
	My 1984 D.H. Duncan Pro-Spin Olympian. This is a great historical yo. Donald F. Duncan Sales and Promotions released a line of yo-yos in 1984. Not a Playmaxx product, even though Don Duncan owned Playmaxx at the time. Since the release coincided with the '84 Los Angeles games, this model was named in their honor. A cool transparent turquoise color rim weighted with clear panels and a torch logo. A great collector's yo, it loops pretty nice too!
	Some of my yo ephemera. This is a modern Duncan yo trick book that came with certain yos in the early '90s. I don't think they ship with this anymore. I would love to get some more old yo printed material, but it has already started fetching stupid money on the net. Oh well, I should have saved all that packaging I ripped up and tossed back in the day!
	Here is the retro package art of the 75th Anniversary Butterfly models are shipped on. I have the same for my Jeweled Pro and my Tournament Pro. They are cool items for the collection.
	Another shot, this time of the entire package card of my 75th Anniversary Imperial. It is interesting that they show the fleur de lys in the artwork, which would soon become the Imp's logo perminently as the chevron was replaced. I like the '60s fleur de lys logo personally.