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| Duncan Super Tournament - Rick Meyers (carved) |
| Exhibit #3071 |
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| Type | Award |
| Shape | Standard (-) |
| Axle | Fixed |
| Color | Blue with white stripe |
| Packaging | None |
| Construction | Three piece wood |
| Response | None |
| Gap | Fixed |
| Condition | 7 |
| Date | 1953 |
| To | 1958 |
| Owner | Rick Brough |
| Compare |  |
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A 1950s wooden Duncan Super Tournament yo-yo in blue with white stripe with Duncan demonstrator handcarving on both sides.
The name "Rick Meyers" was carved by hand on side A by the Duncan demonstrator, as demonstrators were often known to do (especially Filipinos). It's unknown weather this yo-yo was new and given to Rick Meyers for winning a contest, or whether Rick brought this yo-yo and had the demonstrator carve the design for him. Notice, too, that the carving has exposed the raw maple wood under the paint. Sometimes, after a demonstrator carved a design, or a name, or both into a yo-yo, they rubbed dark shoe polish into the carved areas of exposed wood. Then, they wiped away the excess, leaving the carved areas darker. That technique was not done to this particular yo-yo.
The carving suggests that it is a topless woman seen from behind and to the right side. Notice that there is no carving of a bathing suit strap anywhere on her back. If that is the case, it is possible that Rick Meyers was probably in his very late teens – perhaps early 20s – at the time this yo-yo was carved. The reason is because a demonstrator back then (or even today) would never carve a topless hula girl on a yo-yo for a child's yo-yo! Instead, demonstrators usually carved beach scenes with sea gulls, palm trees, mermaids, a boat, setting sun, and surf and sand on the side that did not have the Duncan stamp.
Side B on the yo-yo in this exhibit has a handcarved palm tree on the left; in the middle is the angled backside of a topless hula girl wearing a grass skirt, with both arms up in the air. On the right, in the distance, is a tiny flock of sea gulls just above a setting sun behind mountains (just slightly out of view). A very unique, albeit lewd, yo-yo carving especially for a yo-yo from the 50s. I wish I knew the complete story behind it.
Of interest...
To see all hard carved yo-yos in this museum, in the left panel, select Exhibits.
In the right pane, in the Name/Model field, type carved, then select Browse. | |
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