The Invention of the Slinky 🧬

Morning Slinky!

Ya know, that might be the world’s dumbest toy.

Ya.

A coiled steel wire.

But just because it’s dumb doesn’t mean its origin isn’t fascinating.

And that’s what we’re all about here at Smart Nonsense 🌈.

See, the slinky was accidentally invented during WWII to isolate electronics on US Navy ships.

The year was 1943.

The smartly nonsensical fellow was Richard James, an engineer for the US Navy.

He was tasked with designing a new spring.

One that would keep sensitive electric equipment stabilized on US Navy ships.

Let’s watch his genius now:

Yep, total accident.

The helical spring he was testing just fell off his desk and…slinked!

So he brings his flopped naval assignment home and gives it to his kid.

His kid loves the slinky!

So he rushes to his wife to share his new invention:

She’s hot and bothered by how amazing Richard’s new invention is.

So the two of them gear up with 400 slinkys to sell at a local department store:

They nailed it.

Sold every last one of their 400 slinkys.

Which launched them to become the biggest toy sensation in the 1950s:

Today they’ve sold almost 400 MILLION toys.

Stay Cute,
Henry & Dylan 🌈

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