August 30th is National Slinky Day. This year Just Play will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the iconic toy by giving away 75 limited-edition, gold-plated Slinkys. To help get you in the celebratory mood, here are 10 Slink-tastic facts about the iconic toy.
1. The name, Slinky, was derived from a Swedish word that meant “stealthy, sleek, and sinuous”, aptly describing the expanding and collapsing action of a metal spring.
2. 80-feet of wire goes into each Slinky.
3. 400 Slinky toys sold out in 90 minutes when they were demonstrated in 1945 at Philadelphia-based Gimbel Brothers department store during the Christmas season.
4. With a hit on their hands, James Industries introduced variants of the original novelty toy, including Slinky Soldiers, the Slinky Seal, Slinky Spiral, the Slinky Handcar, and the popular Slinky Dog.
5. In 1999, the US Postal Service issued a Slinky postage stamp as part of the Celebrate the Century: 1940s series.
6. Slinky was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2000.
7. James Industries co-founder, Betty James—the inventor’s wife—was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame in 2001.
8. Pennsylvania designated the Slinky as its official State toy in 2001.
9. In 2019, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission officially unveiled a historical marker for the Slinky in Clifton Heights, home of the toy’s manufacturing until 1965.
10. Slinky Toys are still produced at the original James Industries factory built in 1964 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania.
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