Slinky

toy · physics · springs · classic

Bouncy coiled spring. A Slinky is a simple toy made from a tightly wound metal spring that can stretch and bounce in amazing ways. When you hold one end and let it go, the coils seem to walk down the stairs all by themselves.

Invented by accident. Richard T. James, a naval engineer, discovered the Slinky by accident in 1943 while working on ship equipment. He noticed a spring falling off a shelf and tumbling gracefully, which gave him the idea for this toy.

Became famous fast. The Slinky was first shown to the world at a Philadelphia department store called Gimbels on November 27, 1945. People loved it so much that all the Slinkies sold out immediately.

Walks on its own. The coolest trick is watching a Slinky descend a staircase by itself, pushing down and forward with each step. Each coil works with gravity to create that mesmerizing walking motion.

Still popular today. More than 75 years later, millions of Slinkies have been sold around the world. Kids and adults still enjoy this simple but clever toy.