Museum of Yo-Yo History


Sponsors and Curators The Museum of Yo-Yo History is a labor of love, and we would not be able to stay up-to-date with exhibits without the support of our sponsors and curators. Big thanks go to One Drop Design and Duncan for supplying us with their latest models, YoYoExpert for their help and support, and to Cody Orr, TotalArtist and YoYoBrothers™ for allowing us to use their collections! If you're a manufacturer, or just a big collector and you want to help support the Museum drop me at line at chimera@yoyomuseum.com

Royal TV Picture Yo-Yo

Exhibit #3676

Type	Production
Shape	Modified
Axle	Fixed
Color	Red
Packaging	Boxed
Construction	Multi-piece plastic
Response	Starburst
Gap	Fixed
Condition	Mint
Date	1960
To	1963
Owner	Rick Brough
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The Royal TV Picture Yo-Yo made by Royal Tops Mfg. Co. Inc. with trademark license by Donald F. Duncan, Inc. A fixed axle design with body halves that did not unscrew from the axle. The box that the yo-yo came in was cleverly designed with both girls and boys in mind.

The profile shape of each halve was years ahead of its time for a plastic yo-yo. The rim-weighted design bore close resemblance to the flywheel design of Trag-E Toys' Pro-Yo that came out nearly twenty years later in 1983.

One side of the yo-yo's display box had the following text:

TV YO-YO A masterpiece designed by
the Yo-Yo Champion of the world to rigid tournament specifi-
cations. Made of unbreakable acetate plastic of beautiful
workmanship.
Very precious life time gift for Xmas, birthday or souvenir

Two round, clear sidecaps and two round paper templates were also included in the box. You used the paper templates to design your own paper insert to add behind the clear lens on each halve. One or both sidecaps and/or templates are often missing from these boxed yo-yos. If you are searching for this yo-yo, use the "Complete contents..." photo in this exhibit to make an informed purchase.

The text on the round template says the following:

ROYAL TV PICTURE YO-YO
REMOVE THIS ROUND CARD AND USE
IT FOR PATTERN CUTTING OUT ANY
PHOTO, CLUB INSIGNIA OR FAVORITE
MAGAZINE PICTURE....THEN INSERT IT
INSIDE THE LENS AND SNAP IT BACK INTO
THE YO-YO TO GIVE VIEW LIKE ON
TELEVISION

Manufactured By
ROYAL TOPS MFG. CO. INC.
LONG ISLAND CITY 1, N.Y.

Patents Pending

There were no instructions on how to remove the clear lens caps after they were installed. Kids likely used a knife to pry up the cap. A small diameter suction cup also does the trick.

Original price was $1.00 as pre-printed on the box's end flap. Given the price and the use of a postal zone number in the address on the round template, it puts this yo-yo model sometime around 1963 or a few years earlier.

Other Views

Profile

Box side A with model/actress

Box end flap

Complete contents, box side B with cowboy and horse