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Discover the Top 4 Mind-Blowing Fun Facts About Toys You Never Knew!

illustration of toys
Get ready to be amazed as we unveil some captivating, lesser-known tidbits about the world of toys that will leave you spellbound!

1. Slinky's Seafaring Origins

In a twist of fate that would leave Captain Jack Sparrow scratching his head, the Slinky stumbled into being a beloved toy while attempting to steady sea legs: Originally meant to stabilize sensitive naval instruments amidst surging waves, Richard T. James discovered its playful potential in 1943 when an errant spring casually sauntered off a shelf, pirouetting down a stack of books before triumphantly re-coiling on the floor.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Star Wars Early Bird Certificate

When the Force wasn't yet strong enough with Kenner's toy production: In 1977, Kenner ingeniously released the Early Bird Certificate Package, featuring a display stand, club card, stickers, and a redeemable certificate for the first four Star Wars action figures, to meet Christmas demand despite not having finished creating the epic toys themselves.
Source => theswca.com

3. Bone-Crushing Steampunk Bicycle

Before pedaling his way into history like a steampunk Forrest Gump, Thomas Stevens first had to tackle the menacing "bone crusher" bicycle: Stevens, in 1887, successfully circumnavigated the globe on a Columbia Ordinary, all while sitting atop a whopping 50-inch wheel, proving even steampunk adventurers can have both grit and style.
Source => worldhistoryconnected.press.uillinois.edu

4. Love & Adoption with Cabbage Patch Kids

In a world where Tinder and Bumble didn't exist, lonely hearts found love in cabbage: Cabbage Patch Kids, that is. These pudgy-faced dolls served as the perfect consolation for heartache: Initially created as one-of-a-kind, hand-stitched dolls by Xavier Roberts, these plush toys were inspired by Martha Nelson's Doll Babies and came complete with adoption papers and birth certificates. Roberts' alterations to Nelson's design birthed a soft-hearted empire, leading to a licensing agreement with Coleco Industries, which mass-produced the iconic plastic-headed dolls at lower prices, making them one of the most beloved children's toys of the 1980s.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

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