Duncan Toys Company

Duncan Toys

Type	Subsidiary
Industry	Retail
Founded	1929
Headquarters	Middlefield, Ohio
Products	Yo-yos / Toys
Parent	Flambeau, Inc.
Website	Duncan yo-yos

The Duncan Toys Company is an American toy manufacturer based in Middlefield, Ohio, best known for its Yo-yo line. The company was founded in 1929 by Donald Duncan. In 1968, it became a division of Flambeau, Inc..^[1]

Yo-yo Product Line

• The Imperial is the classic model that made Duncan yo-yos 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 butterfly silhouette. Available in many colors, the Butterfly is another "starter yo-yo" in the Duncan line.
• The BumbleBee is a plastic ball-bearing transaxle yo-yo with a modified silhouette. The Bumblebee has a take-apart construction and removable endcaps. This design was acquired when Duncan bought Playmaxx and it was originally sold as the Turbo Bumblebee.
• The Dragonfly is the same as the BumbleBee, but in a butterfly silhouette. Another Playmaxx design, it was originally sold under the name, Turbo Bumblebee GT.
• 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 modified 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 modified silhouette. With a fixed wooden axle and removable end-caps, the ProYo is designed for intermediate looping play. Formerly manufactured by the Playmaxx/ProYo Company.
• The ProFire is a plastic transaxle yo-yo with removable endcaps in a modified silhouette. Unlike other transaxles, the ProFire has a brass sleeve rotating around the axle. Formerly known as the Playmaxx ProFire, it was designed to excel at looping.
• The ProFly is the same as the ProYo, but in a butterfly silhouette
• The Mosquito is an undersized plastic take-apart ball-bearing yo-yo, intended by Duncan as a "budget" entry-level ball bearing yo-yo. Although equipped with friction stickers the yo yo will not respond if removed..
• The Flying Squirrel is an undersized plastic take-apart ball-bearing 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. With over molded rubber edges for longer lasting play.

"Deluxe" models

• The FreeHand series, started by Steve Brown, 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 is a ball-bearing yo-yo for free hand or regular play. It has friction stickers which if removed will prevent the yo-yo from responding.
  • The Metal Zero is a FreeHand Zero, available in aluminum. Meant to be an affordable metal yo-yo, contrasted with the FreeHand MG. Available in the 40 dollar price range.
  • The FreeHand MG is Duncan's most expensive yo-yo. Its butterfly silhouette is 99.5% forged magnesium, with a ceramic ball-bearing transaxle. This yoyo is very smooth and stable. Limited quantities are manufactured each 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 .023 mm 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. Duncan bought the design from the original German manufacturer and seller Came-yo.

Discontinued models

• The Cold Fusion was a high-end yo-yo made from aluminum with a ball-bearing transaxle and brake pads. It was, at one time, the Guinness World Record Holder for longest spin time at over ten minutes. This is another design acquired from Playmaxx and was available in both modified silhouette and butterfly (Cold Fusion GT). The Guinness record was set with a prototype butterfly version (known as the Lightspeed) that was never produced commercially but the commercial versions soon set new records of their own.

References

1. ^ Flambeau company history

External links

• Duncan's Official Site