Color spring title. Swinging spring- "Slims". Scientific toys. Discussions on the forum

In 1943, the US Navy Mechanical Engineer Richard James conducted experiments with springs tension and once one of the "experimental" springs fell to the floor and began to "walk". Surprised by such behavior of the object of study, James took the spring home and showed the wife of Betty, asked if she did not consider that this thing could be something interesting. Thinking, they decided to improve the invention and try to make a toy from the springs. The final prototype of the fluttering spring consisted of 98 turns, which was 6.35 cm height. Betty got the dictionary in the search for a suitable name and came across the word " Slinky."- Swedish word, meaning mysterious, smooth and winding. It will take another 2 years while Richard will take a loan of $ 500 to the production of the first batch of springs. So there was one of the greatest toys ever created by a person and brand Slinky®, a familiar and beloved in all corners of the United States.

On the counters of the US springs, Slims debuted in a major department store of Jimblel (Gimbel "s) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania under Christmas in 1945. After several failures with sales in small toy stores, Betty and Richard have already doubted that their invention will become commercially successful, but all Their doubts instantly dispelled in an hour and a half when the entire first party of 400 springs was sold during a demonstration of the toy Richard himself. From that moment on, more than 250 million Slims were sold worldwide. The spring was worn like a bracelet, stretched as a garland, jumped through it as through it The rope. But the most interesting occupation of the defers was to launch her on the steps of the stairs on distillations - whose first dosy to the end!
Next year, Richard James left work in the Navy and, together with Betty, opened the plant for the production of springs. Richard equipment made it possible to produce 1 spring in 10 seconds. The company was called "James Industries". In the same 1946, Slims caused great interest at American Toy Fair exhibition. In 1950, the James family bathed in money, but Richard changed a lot and gradually went to religion. In 1960, after numerous, but unsuccessful attempts to persuade a family to go with him, he left Betty, six children and went to Bolivia to be a missionary of some Christian organization. Soon, Betty filed a divorce and stopped contact with a former husband, despite his attempts to write and maintain a connection with her and their eldest son Tom. Betty was headed by James Industries and began to promote their products even more actively. At that time, there was a dog of Slims, a mini-spring, a plastic spring, the famous song-jingle "IT" S Slinky ". Betty also began to use another metal (light) for the production of aging. Initially, the Slims were black and blue, which was explained by special The chemical composition of the Swedish metal, which was chosen by Richard James initially.

Betty James, photo 2006.

In 1998 James Industries was sold by Poof Toys, the United Firm called Poof-Slinky Inc. In 2001 82-year-old Betty James was marked by the prestigious award-winning American toy manufacturers Association (US Toy Manufacturers "Association" S) - That year she was the only one who was honored with this honor and her name entered the "Hall of Fame" (Hall of Fame) Association 41 -Mon. The Hall of Fame was established in 1984 to reward people who made a special contribution to the toy industry.

Slims are still manufactured in the United States, in the city of Holledaysburg (Hollidaysburg), Pennsylvania on the same equipment that Richard and Betty James used. Over the past 60 years, Slinky springs were almost never changed, only the edges were improved to ensure complete safety during the game and compliance with modern safety standards for children's toys. Today, this brilliant invention remains an affordable toy for any age, like previous years.

Interestingly, although the Sling spring was invented exclusively as a children's toy, adults also found her application: in the office as a stand for pencils, in the army as radioantenna, doctors as a tool for therapy and for the development of coordination, teachers for demonstrating wave fluctuations and Mass movement tel., Professor Cambridge for illustration of travel theory in time. Slims are also excellent weapons against stress: try so far the nerves rolling the spring from one hand to another. Really fascinates! There is still a huge amount of application options for this extremely simple, and from this even more interesting, toys.

Favorite fun millions of people have gained popularity and on the big screen, long before the appearance of the modern concept of Product-Placement. A familiar spring can be seen in the hands of the Main Hero of the film "Ace Ventura: Call of Nature", in the movie "Destroyer", in the film "Fans money", in the film-musical "Hair Varnish" and others. In Disney cartoon "History of toys" Slim dog plays a key role. "Toy Story" (English "Toy Story", 1995) - American cartoon created by Pixar Studio together with Walt Disney company. It was the first full-length film, fully modeled on the computer. The cartoon entered the American hire on November 22, 1995 and during the show gathered more than $ 191 million, becoming the most cash film film.

    To this day, contrary to all the laws of business prescribing the costs of costs - and in our time it means to transfer production to the countries of Southeast Asia - the original Slim springs are produced only in the United States, at that very factory, where the first match was released in 1945 From black steel.

    In December 2007, Wired magazine called Slinky the most desired Christmas gift. In this rating, Sliming ahead of such serious competitors as Omega Seamaster watch, Canon camera, etc.

    The Discovery channel recognized the Sling spring of one of the 10 iconic toys of the 20th century.

  • Experiment from aging №1. "Treadmill":
    Experiment with spring SLINKY №2. "Sound of Space Blaster":
    Experiment from Slim №3. "Gravity (with a slow motion effect, so-called. Slow-Mouushn - Slow Motion)":

    Few people know, but the usual spring Slinky has a patent! If you wish, it can be easily found in the Google Patents service at 2,415,012.

"Slinkle-Slims, everyone loves to smell, and adults and children, and boys and girls! Slinkle-smelting - a spring that everyone likes! "
- From the famous Slinky Scenics in the USA.
This rainbow slice of happiness, about which everyone dreamed of in childhood! Gently overflowing in the palms from a ring to a ring, the smelters knew everything: jump, swing and even ... Staking!

In 1943, the shipbuilder engineer Richard James from Philadelphia experimented with springs and once in front of him, in all its glory, the spring dropped from the shelf. He took her home to steal children. From this point on, it begins with a sap-boom.

The name of the Slims occurred from the Swedish "unwind, sliding."

Since 1945, this simplest spring toy is manufactured in Pennsylvania with almost no change.
Richard James patented a toy in 1947 and organized a company for the production of springs - "James Industries".

Before you, an excerpt from the article released in 1948 about the inventor of the Spring-Sling Springs - Richard James.

The production of Slims became a family business of the James family. Later, when Richard himself moved away from the company's affairs, his wife Batty James began to lead his entire work on the production of springs.

In 2001 82-year-old Betty James was marked by the prestigious award-winning American toy manufacturers Association (US Toy Manufacturers "Association" s) - her name entered the Hall of Fame.

The first spring R. James had 98 turns and in the folded state was 6.35 cm high, it could be stretched in a straight line by 30 meters.

The initial flashes were made of metal black and blue, then the metal was replaced with light.
For 60 years of work, the Factory in the United States has developed the formula for the perfect plastic for the Sling Springs: durable, elastic and strain-resistant.

Later, many firms began to make Mlinges - "fakes", began to produce a match from plastic, changed her form (in the form of hearts, stars, butterflies), colors, sizes.

The rainbow spring is one of the most popular fakes from Southeast Asia.

But the real Sling spring is still produced only in the United States at a single factory - the very one, where in 1954 the first batch was released, and only a round shape and one color. From the first release, over 250 million millions were sold worldwide.

Worldwide, you can meet other names of this toy. So, for example, Russia called "Rainbow" and "Onda" ("Ondamania Master").

The children wore a spring on her hand as a bracelet, jumped through it like through the rope, they did garlands, confused and unrapeted, the smelting is called the "walking" spring. It looks especially beautiful when "descent" from the stairs. It can be launched on the steps of the stairs to distillation - whose first will go down. It is interesting that only the round spring is descended, the springs of another form do not know how to "walk" exactly on the stairs

Although the Sling Spring was invented as a children's toy, adults also found her use. For example, such springs were used as mobile radio antenna during the time of war in Vietnam.

Slims has a sufficiently large mass and very small rigidity.
Since the springs - the Slim has a very small coefficient of elasticity, this property allows you to carry out interesting experiences.

Slims can descend along the steps of the stairs or on the inclined plane.
It is enough to install it on the edge of the steps in a vertical position and push to the bottom, and it will pursue. When the whole spring "blows" to the lower step, the upper end, describing the arc, will overstep the next step, etc.

The main reason is that the upper end of the spring has a sufficiently high speed, which allows it to step over to the next step. This is an analogue of an auto-oscillating system, in which the conversion of potential and kinetic energies to each other. To improve the walking of the springs, it is desirable to reduce its elasticity, increase the mass and start the spring with low steps.

Spring - Slims are convenient for the demonstration of vibrational processes.

With it, it is easy to simulate longitudinal mechanical waves and study their properties. To do this, stretch the spring, one of its turns are compressed along the axis, then the oscillations begin. On the spring runs the wave of compression and permission, reflecting from its ends.

If the match is slightly stretched, then the speed of the waves will increase, because There is a decrease in the density of the distribution of longitudinal waves.

In 2001, Slims was named the official toy of Pennsylvania, and the Discovery channel recognized the Sling spring of one of the 10 iconic toys of the 20th century. In 1999, in the United States in the series "Celebrate The Century", summarizing the results of the 20th century, released a postage stamp with the image of this toy.

The Sling Spring was taken to the Space Flight of the NASA astronauts and conducted experiments on the study of gravity in space. Springs - Slims are exhibited in the famous Museum "The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York" and are made, along with Barbie, Monopoly and Designer Lego, to the "National Toy Hall of Fame" list.

So, we play in the match!

Plastic spring from a variety of turns of all colors of the rainbow. Was invented in 1943 by the US Marine Engineer Richard James, who experimented with springs with the aim of the invention to combat

swinging the ship. He dropped to the floor crowded wire. The wire is funny and jumped. In 1945, James and his wife Betty began production of children's toys of springs-smelting. There are two versions of the origin of the title toy: from the words "Snake Like Motion" - "Snake Movement", or from the Swedish "Slinky" - "winding". In Russia, she was also called "Rainbow" and "Onty" ("OnDamania Master").

The rainbow could be thrown into the hand, calming the nerves and listening to the cracks of the rings. Also, the toy possessed the ability to walk, going down the steps. The diameter of the rings allowed the spring on the wrist.

Often rainbow confused. If it is incorrect or rudely unraveling, she lost its properties. Quickly contaminated, from which the coils were blinded.

Children arranged competitions whose spring fresters longer on the stairs, or simply measured the number of rings.

Subsequently, springs appeared in the form of hearts and asterisks.

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Addition to the article:

10.24.2005 | LINOCH-KA LINOCH-KA ( LINOCH-KA.)
I still have five springs: two round - one with big and one with little rings, star, heart and butterfly.
25.10.2005 | Katerina ( katherina.)
I still have in the closet. It is easy to clean it from the mud ordinary cologne.
11/01/2005 | Margo ( Marikosh.)
I once just forced dad to buy me such a rainbow. She briefly lived at us at home, because it was broken. A piece was cut off and used again, but the effect was not the wrong. By the way, this rainbow liked not only me, but also to parents. In fact, it is cool and still sold in stores. Hmm Buy something ??
03.11.2005 | Ksenia Filipenkova ( AIN.)
It was the subject of the desire of everyone!
Not to have such a toy was simply not decent. They were abused as bracelets, made garlands ... but it was most interesting to let from the stairs.
09.12.2005 | Sasha Mart ( Alebelle)
and in our school they even forbid it to walk with her, at least in the lessons. The teachers were in rabies when they saw from under the clothes on his hand he had a colorful color ...
01/02/2006 | Connie ( Connie)
my dad somehow once again went to Peter and I asked to bring me a spring. Dad arrived - brought some two-way penalty, a dump box, a player and a cassette Ace of Base and about the spring forgot! What was the hysterical ... I was all defeated and stated that I don't need anything except the spring. The next day led me to the bazaar and bought the unhappy spring ...
01/28/2006 | Dmitry Brylev ( Dim)
I ask everyone to pay attention to that there are extremely additions to the article. Discussions on the topic, memories and so on - on the forum. You can go to the forum by reference that is on this page. All messages above this were transferred to the appropriate branch and will be deleted. All messages below will also be deleted, but there is no guarantee that they will be transferred.
04/20/2006 | Maria Ru ( condilora)
They were still different caliber. Very small, which is not even put on your hand, more (the optimal version) and generally large (it was also inconvenient to walk with it) for shifts.
11.07.2006 | Kulakova Tanya ( toxxic)
And we called them just springs
07/18/2006 | Alesya ( Nolga.)

07/18/2006 | Alesya ( Nolga.)
Never heard the names of the Slim. In Kiev and the surrounding area they called "Ambambamia" the word-like, how fashionable !!!
01/18/2007 | Vyacheslav ( Someone)
And there were rumors that this is one of the latest large-scale products from Celluloid. And not one girl's life was broken when crawled to make a smoke thymus from this spring. True, they smoked or not - I do not know. I used old rules and ping-pong balls.
01/21/2007 | Irina ( SiberiangirlX.)
I still have it - I used it earlier as a pencil, now I throw away from time to time with my hand to calm the nerves. I remember when she just appeared, there were still in the form of a star and something else, but this is already perversion, you do not wear such a hand if that.
12/23/2007 | Tatyana ( kota.)
Yes, I also have such a thing. But bought it to me when she was already at all, and before that, the girlfriend was missing to play with her

Remember everyone's favorite rainbow childhood toy? Strictly speaking, its official name - Slims, and the history of creating a cult toy originates back in 1943. Many fans of this funny thing do not know that it was invented quite by chance.

In 1943, the Naval Engineer-mechanic Richard James worked at William shipyards, where he developed springs that could maintain and stabilize the sensitive devices of ships in a storm. When he reached for one of the created springs, she suddenly flew from the shelf. But she made it an unimaginable way: the spring began to write a series of arcs, "step-down" first on the stack of books, then on the table, and then to the floor. Richard is extremely liked a maneuverable thing, and he began to improve the spring, experiencing various types of steel and tension levels.

After a year of work, Richard James was ready to present the world a new invention. His wife Betty doubted the intentions of her husband, but these doubts quickly disappeared after she saw the final product. When the first copy appeared, the children in the vicinity looked forward to their turn to try out a new toy.

Richard and Betty James took a loan of $ 500 and formed James Industries, originally known as James Spring & Wire Company. The first 400 units were made of high-quality blue-black Swedish steel. Each toy was cooked by hand in yellow paper and had to be sold at a price of one dollar apiece.

But all toy stores quickly rejected the new invention of Richard. In 1945, Gimbels department store decided to give a chance to a pair, and then Richard and Betty first demonstrated the invention to the general public in the toys section. All 400 units were sold in just 90 minutes. And the end of the 20th century has already numbered more than 250 million copies sold. Nowadays, Slims can be seen in all stores in the world in metal and plastic versions.

1. From 1945 to the present, 50 thousand tons of wire were used in the manufacture of Sling, which would have enough to cover the globe 121 times in the equator area.

2. In 1960, Richard James left his drowning company, which was in deep debts, and moved to Bolivia. His wife Betty refused to go with him, and then he passed the company's management to her. Betty turned out to be much the best supervisor than her former husband. The company has significantly expanded under the leadership of the former wife of the inventor, thanks to which Slims and reached the present day.

3. Betty James died at the age of 90 in 2008, and her former husband Richard died just 14 years after moving to Bolivia in 1974.

4. In 1945, Slims sold at the price of one dollar, today the standard American price for a cult toy is $ 1.99.

5. American troops in Vietnam used the Sling spring as an antenna for the radio, and NASA involved this toy in some experiments on weightlessness.