WHEE-LO
WHEE-LO is a trademark for a handheld toy that propels a plastic wheel along both sides of a metal track with magnets built into the wheel. As the track is tilted up and down, the wheel rolls the length of the track, top and bottom, and then again on the opposite side of the wire. In this way, the wheel always keeps in contact with the track, and can be continually propelled on its cyclical course. With proper timing, the wheel can be brought to a great speed. The trademark was first registered in 1958, but the toy had been marketed in 1953 by the Maggie Magnetic company in New York City. It included six colorful cardboard cutout discs ("Whee-lets") that attached to the wheel and created optical illusions as it spun.[1][2][3]
In his autobiography, The Stringless Yo-yo, Harvey Matusow states that he invented the toy and sold the rights to the Maggie Magnetic company in the early 1950s.[4]
Over the years, several other companies have marketed related toys with different names. As of 2024, the Schylling company manufactures a "Magnetic gyro wheel" toy.[5] The Ipidi company manufactures a toy titled "Retro Magic Rail Twirler".[6]
A plastic piece at one end of the track serves as both a handhold for the toy and an adjustable slider to position the width of the track. The narrower the track, the faster the wheel goes, because the axle is thicker in the middle and you get more distance per each rotation of the wheel. Widen the track, and the wheel goes slower.
Cultural References
[edit]-In S4E25 of Family Guy, news anchor Tom Tucker says, "and now this!" and begins playing with a WHEE-LO during a broadcast. He continues, "Look at that. In the thirties, they called this an Uncle Spinny Dervish," to which co-anchor Diane Simmons replies, "Really?" Tom answers, "I don't know, I'm just bored."
References
[edit]- ^ "WHEE-LO - Trademark Details". Justia Trademarks. Archived from the original on 2024-02-14. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ "Welcome to the Classic Toy Museum - WHEE-LO". Burlingame, California, United States: Classic Toy Museum. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. The Classic Toy Museum closed around 2014.
- ^ Turner, David. "WHEE-LO". Nostalgia Central. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ^ Amecke, Natalie (2024). "Whee-Lo, Light Up Gyro Wheel". Experimentis: Physik für Alle (in German). Archived from the original on 2016-05-14.
(translated quote) The toy was invented by the American Harvey Matusow (1926-2002); he named it the "stringless yo-yo". In the early 1950s he sold the rights to the New York company Maggie Magnetic Inc.. The company brought the toy to market in 1953 with the name "WHEE-LO, the magnetic walking wheel.
This summary is based on the Sussex University archives of Matusow's papers and other materials. - ^ "Magnetic Gyro Wheel". North Andover, Massachusetts, United States: Schylling Corp. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ "Retro Magic Rail Twirler". Minden, Nevada, United States: Ipidipi Toys Corp. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
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