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| + | [[File:Starburst_-_yo-yo.jpg|thumb|left]][[Image:Hbmast.gif|right|thumb|193px|The Hummingbird Yo-Yo Master Award]] |
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| − | '''Hummingbird Toy Co., Ltd.''' was the first yo-yo manufacturing company started by [[Brad Countryman]]. In the 1970's Brad was a manufacturer of custom furniture, and as such needed to find a way to dispose of his left-over wood. In the early 1980's, his Country Wood Shop took the step of making toys and yo-yos with the pieces left over after the manufacturing of furniture. Starting at first with cars and trucks, the creation of the wheels for these models made a natural transition into the |
+ | '''Hummingbird Toy Co., Ltd.''' was the first yo-yo manufacturing company started by [[Brad Countryman]]. In the 1970's, Brad was a manufacturer of custom furniture, and as such needed to find a way to dispose of his left-over wood. In the early 1980's, his Country Wood Shop took the step of making toys and yo-yos with the pieces left over after the manufacturing of furniture. Starting at first with cars and trucks, the creation of the wheels for these models made a natural transition into the manufacture of yo-yos. |
| − | During an exhibition at the 1981 New York Toy Fair, the yo-yos got the most attention, although only a small portion of the company's booth was dedicated to these toys. From |
+ | During an exhibition at the 1981 New York Toy Fair, the yo-yos got the most attention, although only a small portion of the company's booth was dedicated to these toys. From there, the business progressed quickly and in 1982 the 3-worker shop turned out 10,000 yo-yos that caught the eye of companies such as L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, and Land's End. These companies began to market custom made versions of Countryman's yo-yos the following year. As interest grew and the line evolved, more exotic woods were added and the toys found their way into museum shops and upscale catalogues as high-end novelty gifts. |
| − | By the late 1980's, Countryman's company now called Hummingbird Toy Co., Ltd., was known internationally for their ability to manufacture high-end quality wooden toys. An example of this is the [[Smothers Brothers|Yo-Yo Man/Smothers Brothers]] yo-yos, which Hummingbird produced and that were quite popular for about four years during the 1980's. |
+ | By the late 1980's, Countryman's company, now called Hummingbird Toy Co., Ltd., was known internationally for their ability to manufacture high-end quality wooden toys. An example of this is the [[Smothers Brothers|Yo-Yo Man/Smothers Brothers]] yo-yos, which Hummingbird produced and that were quite popular for about four years during the 1980's. |
| − | The success was short-lived and in 1989 the company suffered a severe flood. |
+ | The success was short-lived and in 1989, the company suffered a severe flood. Countryman was forced to make a decision to re-finance the company, and in 1991, sold 70% of his share in the company. Brad remained with Hummingbird, taking on the title of Creative and Marketing Director. In 1992, Hummingbird almost completely abandoned yo-yos in favour of the production of ''Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Wooden Railroad'' sets for the Learning Curve Toy Company. With the high demand placed in production, all manufacturing was outsourced to China in early 1995, but by mid-1995, Hummingbird had finally closed its doors. |
| − | The closing of the Hummingbird company was however not the end of the line for Brad - with his yo-yos still very popular and in high demand, Brad decided to return to manufacturing yo-yos, founding [[What's Next]] with a new line of BC yo-yos. |
+ | The closing of the Hummingbird company was however not the end of the line for Brad - with his yo-yos still very popular and in high demand, Brad decided to return to manufacturing yo-yos, founding [[What's Next|What's Next Mfg.]] with a new line of BC yo-yos. |
==Yo-yos Produced== |
==Yo-yos Produced== |
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* [[Hummingbird Rainbow|Rainbow]] |
* [[Hummingbird Rainbow|Rainbow]] |
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| + | * [[Hummingbird Brookstone|Brookstone]] |
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| + | * [http://yoyo.wikia.com/wiki/Hummingbird_Nature_in_Motion Nature in Motion] |
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* [[Hummingbird Halloween Series|Halloween Series]] |
* [[Hummingbird Halloween Series|Halloween Series]] |
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| + | * [[Hummingbird Signature Yo-Yos|Signature yo-yos]] |
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| − | |||
| + | * [[Misc. Wood|Wooden yo-yos from Hummingbird]] |
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| − | |||
| + | * [[Tom Kuhn Pocket Rocket (wood)|Pocket Rocket]] (for Tom Kuhn) |
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| + | * [[Hummingbird Hum-Zing'er|Hum-Zing'er]] |
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| + | * [[Hummingbird Oh! Zone|Oh! Zone]] |
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| + | * [[Hummingbird Trickster|Trickster]] |
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| + | * [[Hummingbird Starburst|Starburst]] |
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| + | * [[Hummingbird Comet|Comet]] |
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| + | * [[Hummingbird Hol-Yo-Gram|Hol-Yo-Gram]] |
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| + | * [[Hummingbird Limited|Limited]] |
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| + | ==Trivia== |
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| + | *[[Dale Myrberg]] was once a demonstrator for Hummingbird during the 1980s. |
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[[Category:Manufacturers]] |
[[Category:Manufacturers]] |
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[[Category:Manufacturers in North America]] |
[[Category:Manufacturers in North America]] |
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Latest revision as of 23:48, 12 June 2017
The Hummingbird Yo-Yo Master Award
Hummingbird Toy Co., Ltd. was the first yo-yo manufacturing company started by Brad Countryman. In the 1970's, Brad was a manufacturer of custom furniture, and as such needed to find a way to dispose of his left-over wood. In the early 1980's, his Country Wood Shop took the step of making toys and yo-yos with the pieces left over after the manufacturing of furniture. Starting at first with cars and trucks, the creation of the wheels for these models made a natural transition into the manufacture of yo-yos.
During an exhibition at the 1981 New York Toy Fair, the yo-yos got the most attention, although only a small portion of the company's booth was dedicated to these toys. From there, the business progressed quickly and in 1982 the 3-worker shop turned out 10,000 yo-yos that caught the eye of companies such as L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, and Land's End. These companies began to market custom made versions of Countryman's yo-yos the following year. As interest grew and the line evolved, more exotic woods were added and the toys found their way into museum shops and upscale catalogues as high-end novelty gifts.
By the late 1980's, Countryman's company, now called Hummingbird Toy Co., Ltd., was known internationally for their ability to manufacture high-end quality wooden toys. An example of this is the Yo-Yo Man/Smothers Brothers yo-yos, which Hummingbird produced and that were quite popular for about four years during the 1980's.
The success was short-lived and in 1989, the company suffered a severe flood. Countryman was forced to make a decision to re-finance the company, and in 1991, sold 70% of his share in the company. Brad remained with Hummingbird, taking on the title of Creative and Marketing Director. In 1992, Hummingbird almost completely abandoned yo-yos in favour of the production of Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Wooden Railroad sets for the Learning Curve Toy Company. With the high demand placed in production, all manufacturing was outsourced to China in early 1995, but by mid-1995, Hummingbird had finally closed its doors.
The closing of the Hummingbird company was however not the end of the line for Brad - with his yo-yos still very popular and in high demand, Brad decided to return to manufacturing yo-yos, founding What's Next Mfg. with a new line of BC yo-yos.
Yo-yos Produced[]
- Rainbow
- Brookstone
- Nature in Motion
- Halloween Series
- Signature yo-yos
- Wooden yo-yos from Hummingbird
- Pocket Rocket (for Tom Kuhn)
- Hum-Zing'er
- Oh! Zone
- Trickster
- Starburst
- Comet
- Hol-Yo-Gram
- Limited
Trivia[]
- Dale Myrberg was once a demonstrator for Hummingbird during the 1980s.