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| Bandai Gold Fireball 99 LE |
| Exhibit #4881 |
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| Type | Award |
| Shape | Modified |
| Axle | Transaxle - Plastic |
| Color | Gold/Black |
| Packaging | Bubble Carded |
| Construction | Multi-piece plastic |
| Response | Starburst |
| Diameter | 58.3mm |
| Width | 35.01mm |
| Gap | Fixed |
| Weight | 51.05gm |
| Condition | Mint |
| Date | 1999 |
| Owner | Rick Brough |
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The Yomega Gold Fireball 99 was a limited edition award yo-yo featuring a gold-painted body and side caps with a black imprint. This model was made exclusively for the Japanese market and was never available through retail channels.
The yo-yo served as a special award presented to players who completed all the tricks at the Hyper Level during certification at official Bandai stores. The Hyper Level represented the highest level of difficulty in the Hyper Yo-Yo trick rankings.
One distinguishing feature of an original, mint-in-package Gold Fireball 99 LE is that it was polybagged before being placed inside the A-frame packaging.
The Fireball was covered by US patent 4,895,547 -- The initial patent application was filed January 27, 1989 by Leonard R Amaral for "A high-performance yo-yo displays extended spinning time and is easy to use even by a beginner. The yo-yo includes two yo-yo halves connected by the axle. A spool formed from low friction polymeric material is mounted for free rotation on the axle and the yo-yo string is attached to the spool. When the yo-yo spins, the axle rotates freely within the spool. The axial play of the spool on the axle and the space between the yo-yo halves adjacent the spool are subject to certain critical values which provide the yo-yo with its desirable operating characteristics."
The patent application was ultimately granted January 23, 1990. Today, the status of the patent is Expired - Lifetime.
Recipe
Diameter: 58.3mm
Width: 35.01mm
Weight: 51.05gm
Body material: Plastic, gold
Bearing: Plastic transaxle sleeve
Response: Starburst
Original retail price: $ USD.
Of interest...
A gold-chromed version of the Fireball award yo-yo was released around April 1997. Like the Yomega Gold Fireball 99 LE, the Yomega Gold Fireball 1997 was not sold at retail; it had to be earned. Players received it only after successfully completing all tricks at the Hyper Yo-Yo Level.
This gold-chromed version is particularly difficult to find today, especially in mint condition, and commands a high price when it does appear. Its rarity stems from two key factors. First, very few players managed to pass all three levels of tricks, especially during the early days of Japan's first yo-yo boom, when experienced players were scarce. Second, by the end of summer 1997, the gold chromed yo-yo award was replaced with a patch, ending its brief run.
Notably, the side cap design of the 1997 version is quite different from the 1999 version mentioned above.
A miniature version of the gold chromed Fireball 1997 award yo-yo was released by Bandai.
In 2021, YoYoFactory released their gold chromed Loop 720 model that was nearly identical in appearance to the full-sized 1997 gold chromed Yomega Fireball.
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