|
 |
| Elfverson & Co. Super Sonic Yo-Yo |
| Exhibit #2546 |
 |
|
| Type | Production |
| Shape | Standard (-) |
| Axle | Fixed |
| Packaging | Shrink Wrapped on Card |
| Construction | One piece wood |
| Response | None |
| Gap | Fixed |
| Condition | Mint in Package |
| Date | 1972 |
| Owner | Rick Brough |
| Compare |  |
|
|
This signature yo-yo of long time professional yo-yoer Linda Sengpiel came on a large shrink wrapped card with an assortment of extra items including a Festival-branded string pack, 6 World Yo-Yo Club membership cards, a round trick and personal history booklet featuring Linda Sengpiel, 4 pinback buttons with cartoon characters performing tricks, and 2 round peel and stick patches also featuring cartoon characters performing tricks. The yo-yo itself is one-piece beechwood and made in Sweden by Elfverson & Company. The yo-yo is identical to Festival's "Big Zapper" model which was also available during the same period of time as Linda's Super Sonic yo-yo. Two of the pinback buttons on the oversized card say "Stifle Yourself". This choice of words was actually a popular saying by the TV character Archie Bunker on the 1970s sitcom "All in the Family".
Linda Sengpiel had a very long career with yo-yos. Born in 1944, she died at the age of 57 on April 13, 2001. Her obituary read as follows:
"The 'Yo-Yo Woman' Linda Sengpiel went by a simple creed: "Commit yourself to constant improvement," she told the Akron Beacon Journal in 1994. "I think that's what I did without ever realizing what I was doing." The "Yo-Yo Woman" of Akron, Ohio died of cancer at age 57. Mrs. Sengpiel was a well regarded yo-yo artist, winning in a twirling championship sponsered by the Duncan Yo-Yo Co. at Akron's Highland Square in 1957. Of the 500 contestants, she was the only girl. Her prize - a boy's bike.
"Yo-yoing is a small thing, but small accomplishments give you confidence to achieve big ones," she told the Beacon Journal. "That's what it's all about." She came to the craft early, at age 3. Her mother was worried that she'd break all the windows in the house, but her father encouraged her to perfect the intricate twirls. Her skill was so great that she could light a match hanging from the lips of a bystander, yo-yo with one hand and juggle with the other, or knock a poker chip out of a participant's ear.
She was interviewed by many notables including, Captain Penny, Barnaby, Bozo the Clown, Dorothy Fuldheim and Diane Sawyer, and made many guest appearances. She performed at the Saturday banquet that included the yo-yo olympics in 1979 and appeared several times on the Morning Exchange show on Cleveland's WEWS, Channel 5, as well as on CBS and NBC sports shows.
She trained her children to be yo-yo champions as well. The family starred on a segment of the TV show PM Magazine in 1979 and was filmed at home for the Japanese TV show We're Number One, the Japanese version of That's Incredible, in 1982. Linda was married for 29-years."
According to the web page of the city of Akron, Ohio, Linda Lorenz-Sengpiel was a yo-yo champion who was never defeated during her lifetime. She offered $100,000 to anyone who could match her skills. Apparently, no one ever collected.
See also the Linda Sengpiel Official Yo-Yo Book exhibit. | |
| |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
