Priceonomics:
To counterbalance its simplicity, the Slinky has an utterly complex backstory. The toy has dealt with a slew of uncanny circumstances — an inventor who fled to South America to join a religious cult, a seven-figure debt, a mind-boggling reemergence under unlikely leadership — and has somehow managed to persevere with very little redesign.
I don’t know how popular the Slinky is outside of Canada and the US but is there anyone who didn’t get one of these for a gift at some point? And how long did it take you (or your rotten little brothers) to break it?
Shawn,
We would all like to know more about your rotten little brothers.
thanks,
dave
I had one or two as a kid. No rotten little brothers, so I broke them myself.
Never had one myself. Oddly, my little brother got one. I did not break it for him. 🙂
I have had three metal slinky(ies?): one got over stretched and developed a gap; one got kinked and one corroded (still have this one). I have a plastic neon blue one now but it doesn’t have the resonance the steel one has.
EDIT: I also bought one for my father to try and help him with motor skills and coordination during rehibilitation–and just give him something to do; I bought a plastic neon one for my niece.