![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.davison.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/slinky.jpg\" "\\"slinky\\"")
<\/p>\nWhat walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, makes a slinkity sound – and has made millions of dollars since it was invented in 1945?\u00a0 The slinky, and other must-have\u00a0toys and gadgets may be inexpensive to purchase, but continue to make their creators millions!\u00a0 Today, we delve into our childhoods to explore the stories of\u00a05 top toys that\u00a0all started…with an idea!<\/p>\n
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The Slinky<\/strong>– Engineer Richard James and his wife, Betty, borrowed $500 to start production of this spiral-coiled success \u2013 which came from an idea Richard had aboard a World War II Naval ship, when a spring fell onto the floor and flip-flopped around, amusing him.\u00a0 The James\u2019 perfected the long, steel ribbon and Richard designed the machine that manufactured the 80-foot Slinky himself.\u00a0 Although it took some persuading to get the Philadelphia department store, Gimbels, to market the toy \u2013 it sold out in 90 minutes!\u00a0 Today, nearly 300-million Slinkys have sold\u2026and, at $3.99 each, those sales\u00a0add up\u2026fast!<\/p>\n Pet Rock<\/strong>\u2013 Advertising executive Gary Dahl is the mastermind behind the $3.95 smiley-faced rock that made millions!\u00a0 According to Dahl, the \u201cpets\u201d were created as a replacement for the hassle, mess and money of\u00a0more-conventional pets, like cats and dogs.\u00a0 His packaging even included a training manual with instructions on how to take care of, train and command the rocks!\u00a0 Estimates show Dahl sold over 5 million pets in a six-month time period.<\/p>\n Antenna Balls<\/strong>– While Jason Wall has \u201chad a ball\u201d with his invention, he has Jack to thank.\u00a0 When Wall found out Jack in the Box had sold millions of \u201cJack\u201d antenna balls, he got busy designing his own novelty creations.\u00a0 Whether in the form of happy faces, cowgirls or sports logos, you\u2019ve probably seen Wall\u2019s designs as you’ve been\u00a0out traveling.\u00a0 With million-dollar sales since 1999, you may already have one on your own car!\u00a0 If not, you can pick one up for about 4 bucks at your local gas station or convenience store!<\/p>\n Silly Bandz<\/strong>\u2013 A new trend for children of all ages, Robert Croak, the ingenious creator\u00a0 of Silly Bandz, got his idea while on a Japanese business trip in 2002.\u00a0 There, silicone bands were used as a more environmental-friendly option for rubber bands.\u00a0 Croak, and his employer, BCP imports, transformed the office supplies into fashion must-haves by adding tons of shapes and colors.\u00a0 First hitting the internet in 2008, Silly Bandz are now sold at over 8,000 locations nation-wide.\u00a0 At around\u00a0a couple bucks\u00a0per pack, Croak says he\u2019s shipping out millions of the bandz each week!\u00a0 What\u2019s even better \u2013 he\u2019s selling them with NO advertising!\u00a0 The buzz for the bandz is all on-line, and on the playground, of course!<\/p>\n So, whether\u00a0these popular gadgets\u00a0slink down the stairs, “koosh” against the ground or do nothing at all – they’re\u00a0sure to bring a lot of\u00a0fun to children of all ages – and\u00a0a lot of “fun” money\u00a0to their inventors!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What walks down stairs, alone or in pairs, makes a slinkity sound – and has made millions of dollars since it was invented in 1945?\u00a0 The slinky, and other must-have\u00a0toys and gadgets may be inexpensive to purchase, but continue to make their creators millions!\u00a0 Today, we delve into our childhoods to explore the stories of\u00a05 …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[64,2,66],"tags":[73,94,63,43],"class_list":["post-4257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured-invention","category-inventing-advice","category-inventor-stories","tag-invention-idea","tag-inventions","tag-product-development","tag-product-ideas"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.davison.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/koosh-ball.jpg\" "\\"koosh-ball\\"")
Koosh Balls<\/strong>\u2013 Originally invented to help his own children\u00a0learn how to catch, engineer Scott Stillinger tied rubber bands together to make a soft ball that wouldn\u2019t hurt their hands.\u00a0 The name came from the \u201ckoosh\u201d sound the ball made when it hit the ground.\u00a0 Evolving from rubber bands, OddzOn, Stillinger\u2019s company, says there are approximately 5,000 fibers that go into one ball!\u00a0 The Koosh line included about 50 products in all, some of which are still on the market for only a few bucks!<\/p>\n