# Dating a Duncan Imperial **URL:** \ **Category:** General Yo-Yo\ **Created:** [August 25, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261 "2024-08-25T16:29:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fancy-0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fancy-0/32/282201_2.png) [@Fancy-0](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Fancy-0)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 4:29pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/1 "2024-08-25T16:29:33Z")
Not like this… ![notthis](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/d/c/a/dca1f001adfebdf494d0c2b7ba139318939acbd2.jpeg) …rather, is there any way to identify the production date of this Duncan Imperial for my personal records? ![IMG_1899](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/2/9/6/296c778423b6fb0791c5ab7651c63026a0168469.jpeg) I don’t believe the yo-yo to be incredibly old. If I had to guess I’d say mid-nineties. The internet has failed me. Any date range would be appreciated! ---
**Author:** ![Captrogers](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/captrogers/32/647012_2.png) [@Captrogers](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Captrogers)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/2 "2024-08-25T17:01:15Z")
No idea they are still in production so hard to say. ---
**Author:** ![Bobparty](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/bobparty/32/302913_2.png) [@Bobparty](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Bobparty)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/3 "2024-08-25T17:31:08Z")
Let’s go back to the first picture, I have some questions ---
**Author:** ![Captrogers](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/captrogers/32/647012_2.png) [@Captrogers](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Captrogers)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:33pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/4 "2024-08-25T17:33:33Z")
Real answer there should be a batch/date code on the YoYo somewhere ![IMG_8400](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/7/7/9/779f683c6b6e4182e78cd1f41e7fbaad909cdd45.jpeg) That should help identify when it was made. ---
**Author:** ![Fancy-0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fancy-0/32/282201_2.png) [@Fancy-0](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Fancy-0)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:44pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/5 "2024-08-25T17:44:39Z")
Firstly, you’re awesome! Thank you so much. I kept seeing these date codes as I was researching. This one just doesn’t appear to have, or even had a date code. ---
**Author:** ![Captrogers](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/captrogers/32/647012_2.png) [@Captrogers](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Captrogers)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/6 "2024-08-25T17:54:06Z")
Sadly not sure we can date it easily. It’s probably 1990s to early 2000s just as a guess cause it doesn’t look like the 1960s to 80s plastic. I could be off base but that’s my guess Duncan is very consistent and these haven’t changed much in the last 50 years lol ---
**Author:** ![Fancy-0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fancy-0/32/282201_2.png) [@Fancy-0](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Fancy-0)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/7 "2024-08-25T17:58:49Z")
Hah, they truly haven’t changed much. But I guess it ain’t broke. I think you nailed it. That is my guess as well. A definitive answer was always a long shot. Maybe I can ask more about its background, if we have a second date… :wink: ---
**Author:** ![Captrogers](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/captrogers/32/647012_2.png) [@Captrogers](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Captrogers)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 6:03pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/8 "2024-08-25T18:03:54Z")
This is probably the best we will get in answers unless we can ask someone at Duncan that’s been there for a long time or a big time Duncan collector. > **[Duncan Imperial](https://yoyo.fandom.com/wiki/Duncan_Imperial)** > > The Imperial is one of Duncan's two most iconic and best-selling yo-yos, alongside the Butterfly. It was first released in 1954, and has been a true classic since its introduction back then, and it is still in production to this day. The Imperial is... ---
**Author:** ![Splizacular](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/splizacular/32/640487_2.png) [@Splizacular](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Splizacular)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/9 "2024-08-25T18:07:42Z")
brand new one for cross reference ![1000000583](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/c/e/8/ce8b5de48e35dd3cad6ad9ab6dfbc2b3393b557a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Fancy-0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fancy-0/32/282201_2.png) [@Fancy-0](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Fancy-0)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/10 "2024-08-25T18:15:15Z")
That’s where I pulled my spreadsheet information! I may hobby way too hard… ![Screenshot 2024-08-25 at 1.13.38 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/5/5/d/55d4cd496d684cd6de0490db717da6cf6ed97c9c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Fancy-0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fancy-0/32/282201_2.png) [@Fancy-0](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Fancy-0)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/11 "2024-08-25T18:17:43Z")
These subtle differences lead me to believe we may pinpoint this afterall! ---
**Author:** ![Splizacular](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/splizacular/32/640487_2.png) [@Splizacular](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Splizacular)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/12 "2024-08-25T18:24:28Z")
the printing on the new one looks like a thinner font and the gold looks a slightly different shade although that could be age. obviously the major difference being the date code ---
**Author:** ![Fancy-0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fancy-0/32/282201_2.png) [@Fancy-0](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Fancy-0)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 6:48pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/13 "2024-08-25T18:48:37Z")
You are quite correct. There are so many little differences. ![different-duncans](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/e/6/f/e6fe9b81a5dadc347bf6dfe1baf294ed7f4f16f9.jpeg) Batman would be proud…or worried. ---
**Author:** ![DaneMartin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/danemartin/32/291735_2.png) [@DaneMartin](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/DaneMartin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/14 "2024-08-25T18:56:30Z")
Incredibly old - 90’s :skull: Haha. How many of us have imperials that we bought in the 80’s making us beyond incredibly old :joy: Ps. I realize op said “not incredibly old” but reading that made me chuckle ---
**Author:** ![Fancy-0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fancy-0/32/282201_2.png) [@Fancy-0](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Fancy-0)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 6:58pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/15 "2024-08-25T18:58:26Z")
_ **Not** _ incredibly old, yes. Otherwise I’m probably ancient. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Captrogers](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/captrogers/32/647012_2.png) [@Captrogers](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Captrogers)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 7:22pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/16 "2024-08-25T19:22:34Z")
I have 50s era Duncan’s on a shelf I would be concerned if we are calling 90s super old now. Admittedly I wasn’t the original owner of the super old yo-yos I own I wasn’t Ali r yet lol ---
**Author:** ![Errant.Giraffe](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/errant.giraffe/32/283519_2.png) [@Errant.Giraffe](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Errant.Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 7:55pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/17 "2024-08-25T19:55:53Z")
I’m pretty sure you’re into the 2000s with that Imperial. It looks like Flambeau (Duncan) switched from “_Made in USA_” to “_USA Made • World’s #1_” in ‘97. Then, best I can tell is that they shifted mfg of these mass plastics to China in the early 2000s. That’s when they changed the stamp to “The Original • World’s #1”. From there on, I can’t say. ![IMG_4101](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/3/5/3/3537420672d5bedb40092a72847710ae7fe46982.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Fancy-0](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/fancy-0/32/282201_2.png) [@Fancy-0](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Fancy-0)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/18 "2024-08-25T20:08:22Z")
Fantastic. Thank you kindly! We’re chipping away at this mystery! ---
**Author:** ![Captrogers](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/captrogers/32/647012_2.png) [@Captrogers](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Captrogers)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2024, 8:19pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/19 "2024-08-25T20:19:05Z")
Ahh neat my vague guess was mostly right. ---
**Author:** ![SlacKing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@SlacKing](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlacKing)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 9:33pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261/20 "2024-08-27T21:33:44Z")
What book is that from? [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/dating-a-duncan-imperial/408261.md?page=2)