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| Yomega Fireball (debut) - 1991 |
| Exhibit #3921 |
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| Type | Production |
| Shape | Standard (-) |
| Axle | Transaxle - Plastic |
| Color | Red/clear |
| Packaging | Bubble Carded |
| Construction | Multi-piece plastic |
| Response | Starburst |
| Gap | Fixed |
| Condition | Mint in Package |
| Date | 1991 |
| Owner | Rick Brough |
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Fireball in A-Frame packaging; yellow card insert. When Yomega renamed their first transaxle yo-yo model from Outrageous Yo (1989) to Fireball (1991), it was initially released in a red cap/gold imprint version (seen in this exhibit) with a clear body, but without its patent number printed on the sidecaps. The second edition of the Fireball had a black cap/gold imprint version with a clear body, and with its patent number printed on the side caps. These earliest Yomega Fireball models used A-Frame-style packaging with card inserts. For collectors, this debut version of the Fireball, without its patent number printed on the sidecap and in its original packaging, is uncommon, hard-to-find, and valuable.
While the design of the Fireball yo-yo has changed little in more than 30 years, one noticeable difference is the use of four internal cross-ribs in each halve. These earliest Yomega transaxle yo-yos are easily identified by the use of these internal cross-ribs. Yomega eventually eliminated the cross-ribs from their molds sometime in the mid 1990s. See the Gemini Gyro, v. 2 exhibit for a picture of cross-ribs.
The printed clamshell card that came with this model was sparse on text compared to the packaging of other Yomega models from the same time period. It is also interesting to note that no where on the packaging is the word "yo-yo" used; only on the yo-yo cap. Perhaps a nod to the haste in which this model was released? One can only speculate. This particular version with red caps but no patent number, and yellow card is hard to find and quite valuable. It was the first edition/debut release of the Fireball after its name was changed from Outrageous Yo.
Notice the price sticker in the Package bottom photo. The date code on the sticker is 2/91, denoting February 1991. A great piece of information to know the precise month and year of this famous yo-yo's release. Gregory's Toys & Adventures, where this yo-yo was bought, was a popular toy store in the West in the 1990s. It went out of business sometime in the mid 2000s.
Original retail price: $6 US. | |
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