Twelve Roy Rogers Yo-Yos with Box

Collectibles : Toys : Yo-yos

 

In the 1950s, All Western Plastics struck a deal with Roy Rogers for a major promotion. According to the back of the yo-yo, “ROY ROGERS KING OF COWBOYS is leading a National Roundup to find the King and Queen of ‘Roundup King’ Top spinners. Various prizes awarded to runners-up. King and Queen chosen in preliminaries authorized by All Western Plastics, Inc., will have their expenses paid to the finals at the big corral in Hollywood to choose the National King and Queen and meet Roy and Trigger. Watch newspapers, theatres and corrals for details of authorized contests.”

We believe this promotion never took place. According to Lucky Meisenheimer’s authoritative book on yo-yos, Lucky’s Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos, a large warehouse find was discovered in the 1980s. Thousands of yo-yos were sold to antique dealers across the nation. Legend has it that these yo-yos were found in a semi-truck trailer. The liquidator dumped the yo-yos into bins and threw out the boxes. Some of the boxes survived this harsh treatment and can be occasionally found. Like HERE!

Another legend suggests that the semi-truck discovery came about because of a tornado. And, after all, All Western Plastics was a Nebraska company.

We bought our first Roy Rogers yo-yo in an antique store in 1994, and then bought many more in 1995 at an antique show- out of bins just as described above. Here are 12 of those yo-yos and one of the original surviving boxes.

The yo-yos are still in their original cellophane and come in an assortment of colors. The box does show wear, after 50 plus years of being shuffled around.

Why didn’t the promotion happen? How could thousands of yo-yos go undiscovered for over 30 years? And what happened to All Western Plastics? No answers here. Just a box of old yo-yos waiting for a new cowboy or cowgirl to round up!

Item ID: 0619