The Slinky

A Slinky is a toy made from a long, coiled spring. When you set it on the top of a staircase, it can walk down the stairs by itself. The way it flips and flops is fun to watch.

How the Slinky Was Invented

The Slinky was invented by accident in 1943. A naval engineer named Richard James was working with springs on a ship. He knocked a spring off a shelf, and it tumbled end over end across the floor.

His wife Betty thought it would make a great toy. They named it the Slinky, which means sleek and graceful. When they first sold Slinkys at a store in Philadelphia, they sold 400 in just 90 minutes.

The Slinky Through the Years

The original Slinky was made of metal. Today, you can also buy plastic Slinkys in bright colors. The classic metal Slinky is still the most popular.

Over 300 million Slinkys have been sold around the world. The Slinky has also been used by scientists and soldiers. Teachers use it to show how waves move through the air.

Fun Facts

• The Slinky was invented by accident when a spring fell off a shelf.
• A Slinky has 80 feet of wire but is only 2 inches tall when coiled.
• Over 300 million Slinkys have been sold since 1945.

Did You Know?

A Slinky was sent into space on the Space Shuttle Discovery to test how springs work without gravity.