# Paper yo-yo history
**URL:** https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687
**Category:** General Yo-Yo
**Created:** [January 8, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687 "2025-01-08T01:32:08Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Paperyoyopilgrim](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Paperyoyopilgrim)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/1 "2025-01-08T01:32:08Z")
Hi, I’ve been trying to learn more about the origins of so called “paper yo-yos” or “Chinese yo-yos”. This is the tightly wrapped paper on a stick you could extend and retract that was often a cheap prize at arcades. Not to be confused with the other kind of Chinese yo-yo with sticks and string.
I can’t find anything at all! I know this isn’t the kind of yo-yos you guys deal in but I’m at a dead end! Anyone have leads or alternative names?
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### Author:  [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 1:35am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/2 "2025-01-08T01:35:39Z")
I know what you’re talking about! But that’s about the extent of my knowledge on the matter, unfortunately
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### Author:  [@Splizacular](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Splizacular)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 1:58am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/3 "2025-01-08T01:58:19Z")
it probably doesn’t have a history. it seems to be something that just popped on the scene in the 80’s as party favors
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### Author:  [@edhaponik](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/edhaponik)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 2:19am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/4 "2025-01-08T02:19:19Z")
I remember catching those at Mardi Gras sometimes as a kid! I loved those things! Sorry I’m no actual help.
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### Author:  [@Grendel](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Grendel)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 2:35am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/5 "2025-01-08T02:35:29Z")
Skon laminated blocks of paper and made FHZs. Hey @kyo can we get some pics?
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### Author:  [@fradiger](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/fradiger)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 4:07am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/6 "2025-01-08T04:07:45Z")
Have heard them referred to as paper lasers before lol, that’s about all I got though.
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### Author:  [@kyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/kyo)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 6:14am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/7 "2025-01-08T06:14:00Z")
Sure, this was made by s.kon from many layers of origami paper sandwiched and saturated with resin, then turned into a fhz. It even has an old school hand cut konkave A bearing because they weren’t available back in those days.
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### Author:  [@Snoopy](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Snoopy)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 6:19am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/8 "2025-01-08T06:19:35Z")
_“Does it vibe?”_
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### Author:  [@kyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/kyo)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 6:21am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/9 "2025-01-08T06:21:20Z")
Zero vibe.
S.kon is the best yoyo maker/modder in the world, it plays great.
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### Author:  [@Captrogers](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Captrogers)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 12:01pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/10 "2025-01-08T12:01:41Z")
That’s got to be meticulous hours and hours of effort for that one yoyo
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### Author:  [@edhaponik](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/edhaponik)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 12:07pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/11 "2025-01-08T12:07:05Z")
That’s pretty much s.kon’s thing :wink:
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### Author:  [@kyo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/kyo)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 2:42pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/12 "2025-01-08T14:42:12Z")
That’s still the coolest yoyo ever. It’s also still as absolutely flawlessly smooth as it was in 2008. If I remember correctly (not going to go count) it’s 134 hand made parts.
Without the world mod contest these days I think a lot of younger/newer throwers don’t know his work, good to shine a spotlight on it occasionally 🙂
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### Author:  [@edhaponik](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/edhaponik)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/13 "2025-01-08T17:55:29Z")
On you too, homie. It takes one to know one and you’ve put some pretty crazy designs into the yo-yo world. 🙌🏼
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### Author:  [@Lido](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Lido)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/14 "2025-01-08T20:09:39Z")
> [@Paperyoyopilgrim](#):
>
> I’ve been trying to learn more about the origins of so called “paper yo-yos” or “Chinese yo-yos”. This is the tightly wrapped paper on a stick you could extend and retract that was often a cheap prize at arcades.
IIRC when I was growing up these things were sometimes called whipper-snappers. Sadly, the other old-timey use of that term will probably make searching tedious.
Grendel, Kyle and Ed, I appreciate you posting about s.kon. Good to learn a little history I never knew about.
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### Author:  [@Retro-Yo](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Retro-Yo)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2025, 6:10am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/15 "2025-01-09T06:10:35Z")
Hans (YYF) has one and talks about it in a YT video. IIRC it’s the Gentry video about Hans collection. Very cool, it would be nice to see a production version at a reasonable price.
In regards to paper throws, this is the first I have heard of them. Very interesting.
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### Author:  [@Xanadu](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Xanadu)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2025, 12:56pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/16 "2025-01-09T12:56:27Z")
Hey! Is it this? [https://dillydallykids.ca/products/cllassic-paper-yo-yo?srsltid=AfmBOoo55eHC-6Avn09Lr0t832eNyOsVcAuX7WwIFc1QDZlSyDcfuAyo](https://dillydallykids.ca/products/cllassic-paper-yo-yo?srsltid=AfmBOoo55eHC-6Avn09Lr0t832eNyOsVcAuX7WwIFc1QDZlSyDcfuAyo)
Edit: there’s actually a whole bunch of these on the rainforest site.
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### Author:  [@Splizacular](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Splizacular)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/17 "2025-01-09T13:32:52Z")
i don’t think they’re trying to find them so much as find out about them; i.e. history and origin. they’re pretty easy to find but trying to get any info on where they came from seems to be a diff story. i tried to dig around myself but every time you mention Chinese and yoyo together you just get results for diabolo
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### Author:  [@Xanadu](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Xanadu)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2025, 1:44pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/18 "2025-01-09T13:44:18Z")
Going through the skill toy list on Wikipedia may yield results:
> **[List of skill toys](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_skill_toys)**
>
> A skill toy is an object or theatrical prop used for dexterity play or an object manipulation performance. A skill toy can be any static or inanimate object with which a person dances, manipulates, spins, tosses, or simply plays. Most skill toys are played alone, although some can be played with multiple people (such as footbag, juggling, and jump rope).
> Common examples of skill toys include:
> Juggling prop, most often a juggling ball or beanbag, may also refer to:
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### Author:  [@Paperyoyopilgrim](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Paperyoyopilgrim)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/19 "2025-01-09T14:03:58Z")
I really wanted to find the origins because I’m trying to build a similar mechanism and thought finding the history might give me clues. However, I’ve found a better analog in STACER springs that are used to deploy booms in outer space ([https://youtu.be/bElqBRvqTdo?si=HqtMh-un4kkkKu4M](https://youtu.be/bElqBRvqTdo?si=HqtMh-un4kkkKu4M)).
Still weird there isn’t a paper trail (haha). Like these are so simple… Did they exist in the 1800s? Earlier? Or did they just crop up in the mid/late 1900s, suddenly ubiquitous? Why don’t I see them around much anymore? Were they actually Chinese, or was that a marketing gimmick?
I’ve been spoiled by having a wikipedia article for almost everything, so when there is a gap it feels like an affront!
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### Author:  [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/paper-yo-yo-history/416687/20 "2025-01-09T17:45:49Z")
I feel they are as Chinese as American Chinese food, but that’s just a hunch. I also feel this needs a 4hr long investigative YouTube documentary lol
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