# Tom Kuhn Appreciation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Yo-Yo Exhibition\ **Created:** [February 7, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173 "2013-02-07T12:26:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![jblack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c4cdca/32.png) [@jblack](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jblack)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/223 "2020-08-31T15:22:36Z")
Mine is an Imperial as well. I thought the Butterfly versions were rarer. ---
**Author:** ![AaronW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/aaronw/32/49251_2.png) [@AaronW](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AaronW)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 3:35pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/224 "2020-08-31T15:35:28Z")
This was my impression as well. ---
**Author:** ![Egon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/egon/32/53004_2.png) [@Egon](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Egon)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 5:15pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/225 "2020-08-31T17:15:07Z")
I’ve looked around a lot and can’t find a picture in imperial anywhere. @edhaponik also said he can’t remember seeing one. @yoyodave42 could probably clear this up. ---
**Author:** ![Exmime](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/exmime/32/40143_2.png) [@Exmime](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Exmime)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2020, 6:30pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/226 "2020-08-31T18:30:09Z")
Only a prototype on [yoyo museum](http://www.yoyomuseum.com/museum_view.php?action=view&subaction=exhibit&exhibitid=3198) ---
**Author:** ![AaronW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/aaronw/32/49251_2.png) [@AaronW](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AaronW)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/227 "2020-09-01T00:16:11Z")
Ah you’re right, I looked again and for some reason I always thought it was an imperial :joy: ---
**Author:** ![chrismacg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@chrismacg](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/chrismacg)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/228 "2020-09-10T00:08:16Z")
Law Offices of Robert M. Smith? I mean, there are a number of omissions on the page but I’ve never heard of a law office’s No Jives. > **[Tom Kuhn Advertising and Souvenir Yo-yos](https://yoyo.fandom.com/wiki/Tom_Kuhn_Advertising_and_Souvenir_Yo-yos)** > > Back in the early days of his San Francisco workshop, Tom Kuhn produced several advertising yo-yos for clients, as well as several yo-yos showing popular San Francisco tourist spots. These were generally one or three piece plain maple yo-yos with... ---
**Author:** ![jblack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c4cdca/32.png) [@jblack](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/jblack)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/229 "2020-09-11T17:20:19Z")
The Law Offices of Robert Smith was a plain maple woody - made by Humingbird and does’t contain any TK branding IIRC. I think there’s one in my picture above. ---
**Author:** ![chrismacg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@chrismacg](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/chrismacg)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/230 "2020-09-11T17:35:51Z")
There it is, I see it now. So not a No Jive then. Your collection is excellent by the way. ---
**Author:** ![chrismacg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@chrismacg](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/chrismacg)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2020, 2:50pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/231 "2020-09-28T14:50:01Z")
FYI - I posted a history of the Datachecker/DTS No Jive this morning: > [@Tom Kuhn Datachecker/DTS No Jive History](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-datachecker-dts-no-jive-history/327629): > > I recently bought a Tom Kuhn No Jive model with a rather interesting history. I thought I’d share what I learned. If you have any further information on the history of this No Jive I’d appreciate the feedback. The Continental Cash Registers / Datachecker DTS National Semiconductor No Jive yo-yo is one of the rarest and least documented No Jive 3-in-1 model yo-yos from Tom Kuhn Custom Yo-yos. It is thought to be the first or second commissioned yo-yo made by Tom Kuhn and believe it to be commiss… ---
**Author:** ![THPaul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/thpaul/32/105727_2.png) [@THPaul](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/THPaul)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 3:58am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/232 "2020-10-16T03:58:43Z")
![20 year button](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/c/6/3/c63e8024aaa67851f71e93b80fbe8180e8a959c9.jpeg) ![189443_10150137802669297_54073459296_6245725_6199719_n](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/0/c/3/0c3b936335a48b32acc029e66fae6d187ae68297.jpeg) ![Silver Bullet holster](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/8/f/7/8f758823ee7e9340c570e3f08bad7130f22c66c1.jpeg) ![Team patch](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/3/6/c/36cf96ccf3003e240ba0817e7fda3cc4d9a714a0.jpeg) ![Wing patch](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/9/c/c/9cc323506200bb3a7858f799a3bc949491725c83.jpeg) ![String](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/e/3/9/e39fdbc7e2ed344e1c0f653e6a798d3ed874ee90.jpeg) A few non-yo-yo Kuhns… ---
**Author:** ![THPaul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/thpaul/32/105727_2.png) [@THPaul](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/THPaul)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 4:03am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/233 "2020-10-16T04:03:46Z")
Anybody know anything about the Kuhn “Territory Ahead” yo-yo? All I know is that The Territory Ahead briefly sold it on their website, but that was long before I stumbled upon it on eBay. ![territory ahead](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/0/c/e/0cef358045a612d9507f46a9039ff5b04f321aa3.png) ![territory3](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/0/3/a/03ae8aaf2c7f0589e6da2e5572af8a1d4bdadc32.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Exmime](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/exmime/32/40143_2.png) [@Exmime](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Exmime)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/234 "2020-10-16T19:49:57Z")
As seen on [Fixed Axle Friday Throws](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/fixed-axle-friday-throws/294546/1475). Up on the Pine River Valley this morning so I grab my [Tom Kuhn Pine River Valley Dark](http://www.yoyomuseum.com/museum_view.php?action=view&subaction=exhibit&exhibitid=1344). ![20201016_110506](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/4/9/8/498cd3aaa98aafca1b15dc29e049f2c1f906ea8f.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![edhaponik](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/edhaponik/32/150896_2.png) [@edhaponik](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/edhaponik)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 9:09pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/235 "2020-10-16T21:09:46Z")
Great to have you on here Paul!!! I haven’t looked out for that one since it’s not a No Jive, but I always loved the look of them. I’m also still so mad my dog Sadie chewed up the Team No Jive patch I got from Steve Brown! :joy: ---
**Author:** ![chrismacg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@chrismacg](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/chrismacg)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2020, 4:03pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/236 "2020-10-28T16:03:50Z")
I’ve been digging into the history of the retail branded No Jives from Tom Kuhn in the mid-80s. I’m trying to nail down the release dates and run sizes for the Kreeger & Sons, Abercrombie & Fitch and Neiman Marcus models. My research on the Abercrombie & Fitch No Jive has uncovered a minimum of three separate production runs. I’m wondering if there are others. Here are the three that I’ve identified: ![IMG_4457](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/0/4/9/0496e0df245d73c5e2d9ceee61ae1d049c70d56e.jpeg) From left to right: 1. **A&F© Copyrighted release** - My guess is that this model is the first release before the A&F name was a registered trademark for use on yo-yos. Based on the history of A&F’s trademark applications I believe this model came out after 1981 and before 1987. My gut feeling is that the copyright release came out around 1984. 2. **A&F® Registered small** - I peg this model as the middle release but that’s just a guess. Aside from changing the © to a ®; there is another change. The diameter of the circle that “Abercrombie & Fitch” is wrapped around is wider than the © version; possibly due to a request to ‘make the logo bigger’. :wink: 3. **A&F® Registered big** - I believe this to be the final release of the three models. My feeling is that this small ® model was delivered to A&F and their lawyer decided the ® symbol needed to be bigger (typical lawyering). This model would have been released no later than 1987. In 1988 the A&F brand was purchased from Oshman’s by The Limited and all inventory was divested. During the period of time that Tom Kuhn was producing A&F No Jives the brand was owned by Houston based sporting goods company called Oshman’s. Oshman’s opened its first A&F store in 1979 in Beverly Hills as a high end retailer catering to the upscale consumer. By the mid 80s Oshman’s was operating four A&F stores (additionally in Dallas and two in New York City). With only four stores and a catalog business I can’t see production runs numbering more than a few hundred at the maximum. Tom Kuhn’s minimum run in the 80s was 100 units and I expect that each of the runs probably numbered between 100 and 200. If anyone has additional A&F designs or details on their released that I haven’t documented here I’d appreciate hearing about them. ---
**Author:** ![AaronW](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/aaronw/32/49251_2.png) [@AaronW](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AaronW)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2020, 7:11pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/237 "2020-10-28T19:11:57Z")
Don’t know much about the history of those, but I do know Abercrombie originally started as a hunting and fishing company. Some fly fisherman search out their original fly boxes, they’re really good. Find it funny what they’ve turned into eventually :joy: ---
**Author:** ![chrismacg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@chrismacg](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/chrismacg)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2020, 8:41pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/238 "2020-10-28T20:41:40Z")
The history of A&F is an interesting read. The brand has risen and fallen multiple times since it’s inception in 1892. The current youth clothing version bears little resemblance to the majority of its history. The years we care about, when the yo-yos were being sold, are a mere blip in the overall history of the company. > **[History of Abercrombie & Fitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Abercrombie_%26_Fitch)** > > The history of Abercrombie & Fitch began in the 19th century and extends into the 21st century. Key figures who changed and influenced the course of Abercrombie & Fitch's history include co-founders David T. Abercrombie and Ezra Fitch, Limited Brands and Michael Jeffries, the former chairman and CEO. > David Abercrombie founded A&F in 1892 as an upscale sporting goods store. Forming a partnership with Ezra Fitch, the company continued to expand in the new 20th century. After Abercrombie left the... ---
**Author:** ![dsl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@dsl](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/dsl)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/239 "2020-12-11T21:27:07Z")
Figured I’d share this for anyone who might not have seen it before. I mentioned in a post years ago that the Klutz Yo-Yo book had these really visually appealing images of TK yoyos in the back pages. Really nicely sized, great detail, etc. Just real dream material for a 12/ 13 year old kid playing on a $5 Smothers Brothers YOYO Man yoyo and staring at these gorgeous mail-order beauties from San Francisco. This might have been in the late 80s/ early 90s. I have no idea why I did this, but I ripped out the 2nd and possibly 3rd page and that’s lost forever. I’m pretty sure it had an image of the Flying Camel and maybe the Diamond Special and/or Silver Bullet? I think the last page may have been a mail order form, but I was a Canadian pre-teen and there was no way I was going to figure out how to order these things. At any rate, here’s the one page I still have. If anyone else has the other page, feel free to share! ![IMG_6828](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/a/6/4/a64d7b7623f1ae210861e7e50cb41a2d0372acf2.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![vinniekowalski](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/vinniekowalski/32/192899_2.png) [@vinniekowalski](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/vinniekowalski)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/240 "2020-12-11T23:00:39Z")
Sorry this is a late response to your note but I have one of the new Woodies, and they play really nice. Just a solid, well-weighted fixie to me. My kid hit it on the floor a bunch one session, and so it became loose; but it was easy to glue back and now it works the same as before :+1: ---
**Author:** ![chrismacg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@chrismacg](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/chrismacg)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/241 "2020-12-16T20:21:19Z")
Here you go. I recently picked up another copy of the first printing of this book. I credit it with getting me started with yo-yoing. I think I was a rebellious 14 year-old when I ‘lifted’ just the yo-yo from a bookstore in the mall. A few days later I made my parents take me back to the mall so I could swipe the book for the instructions. While I realize that petty theft got me into this hobby, I think the many thousands of dollars I’ve spent on yo-yos in the past 35 years have more than made up for my youthful transgressions. Also, I was really happy to find a copy recently with the original yo-yo still attached. ![IMG_4436](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/b/5/8/b58031cfabc3eb6f3f040159612decb2759f174b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![dsl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@dsl](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/dsl)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173/242 "2020-12-17T00:02:50Z")
Oh man, thanks for sharing! It’s pretty interesting that yours has prices listed ($17 for a Flying Camel!) and mine doesn’t, but that could be the US vs Canadian printings. Your ‘Kuhn catalog’ also seems to be much earlier in the book than mine. FWIW I’m feeling relieved that 40-something me actually remembered what was on that missing page after all these years! There’s petty theft in my yo-yoing background too, but that involved the Yomega I held onto from the early 90s until I got back into things a few years ago. Now that I think about it, I need to go back to that store and leave $20-30 USD laying around as soon as we’re allowed back into the States. [Previous page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173.md?page=11) [Next page](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/tom-kuhn-appreciation-thread/49173.md?page=13)