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| Dell Fireball (glow) - No. 606 |
| Exhibit #2654 |
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| Type | Production |
| Shape | Specialty |
| Axle | Fixed |
| Packaging | Bubble Carded |
| Construction | Multi-piece plastic |
| Response | Starburst |
| Gap | Fixed |
| Condition | Mint in Package |
| Date | 1962 |
| Owner | Rick Brough |
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The original Fireball yo-yo. Stamp on yo-yo says DELL'S BIG "D" FIREBALL. An early Dell glow in the dark yo-yo. The packaging uses the word "yo-yo" on it, but the yo-yo itself does not have the word imprinted on it. Dell, along with Royal Yo-Yos, was sued by Duncan over use of the term "yo-yo" on their packaging. Rather than go through costly litigation, Dell chose to discontinue their yo-yo product line in the early to mid 1960s (Royal continued production) .
The shape of the body halves on this yo-yo are virtually identical to the Duncan "Satellite" yo-yo released about the same time period. However, that's where the similarity ended between the two yo-yos. Unlike Duncan's all wood and painted version, Dell's version was more advanced for its time. The Fireball was made of plastic, used a metal axle, and it glowed in the dark. Oddly enough, no where on the packaging does it mention that it glowed.
The Dell Fireball is a hard to find model nowadays.
"Fireball" was a trademark that originally belonged to Dell in the early 1960s. The trademark eventually expired, likely in the mid to late 60s after Dell ceased all yo-yo production about 1965. (A trademark remains persistent only if the owner -- in this case, Dell -- continues to use the trademark in commerce.) Yomega took over the trademark likely around the late 1980s or early 1990s, and promptly renamed their freshman transaxle yo-yo model, known originally as the Outrageous Yo, to the Fireball. The rest is history, as they say. Yomega continues to sell the Fireball into 2021 and Fireball became a registered trademark of Yomega in 1997.
A variation of the Dell Fireball was also made called Dell's Big "D" Astronaut. It did not glow and is hard to find now.
To see all glow in the dark yo-yos in this museum, in the left panel, click Exhibits.
In the right pane, in the Name/Model field, type glow, then click Browse. | |
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