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| Duncan Imperial Junior (Jr.) - No. 450 |
| Exhibit #1708 |
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| Type | Production |
| Shape | Standard (-) |
| Axle | Fixed |
| Finish | Unfinished |
| Packaging | Poly Bagged with Card |
| Construction | Multi-piece plastic |
| Response | None |
| Condition | Mint in Package |
| Date | 1962 |
| Owner | Rick Brough |
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The Duncan Imperial Jr. Beginners Yo-Yo Return Top, No. 450, was a smaller diameter yo-yo similar in shape to the slightly larger Duncan Imperial. These yos were sold in the early 1960s. On one side of the clear yo-yo, inside, was a colored starburst design as seen above. On the opposite side were cartoons of the Duncan Yo-Yo man in a variety of situations/environments. There were five variations of cartoon designs that were put into production. This exhibit shows four of them. The one missing cartoon design is the Duncan Yo-Yo man with a dog chasing a cat.
The No. 450 first came out about April 1962 but was dropped from the Duncan product line in the summer of 1963, a little more than a year later.
The official Duncan description read as follows:
"What's new? Well, just read on...
By the time you read this, trade publications will be carrying photos and descriptions of three brand new Yo-Yo return tops. And they're real honeys! They include the No. 500 Shrieking Sonic Satellite, in two colors, and capable of spinning at more than 1,000 r.p.m., simultaneously producing a high-pitched tone which simulates radio waves to satellites constantly whirling around the earth. It's polybagged and will sell for $1.00. Then there's the attractive No. 700 Mardi Gras, with a dozen festive color patterns for the young and young-in-heart woman. It's of solid Eastman Tenite plastic, and is also a $1.00 retailer. Finally, for the beginner who has designs on becoming an expert, you'll like the smooth performance of the new Junior Size No. 450, which is slightly smaller than the professional Imperial. And it's only 49¢."
What's interesting is the marketing slogan on the packaging: "If it isn't Duncan it isn't Yo-Yo". This slogan is a shortened version of the long-standing "If it isn't a Duncan, it isn't a Yo-Yo". Perhaps there were space limitations on the card, causing the packaging designer to shorten the phrase? Who knows. The phrase was actually coined before Duncan yo-yos existed. It was originally, "If it isn't a Flores, it isn't a yo-yo." Flores yo-yos were the predecessor to Duncan. | |
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