Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos: History & Values [Paperback]

Lucky J. Meisenheimer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1999

Whether yo-yo enthusiasts are just getting into collecting or have been serious for years, there's only one book that gives instant expertise ... Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos. Authored by the foremost expert on the history of the yo-yo, the book is the bible of yo-yo collecting and boasts more listings and values for yo-yos and memorbilia than any other guide. Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos covers the majority of popularly collected yo-yos -- from the first 1928 Flores yo-yo to modern high tech ball bearing transaxles. Featured are close to 2000 items listed with values in up to three grades of condition. Running 256 pages (8 1/2 inches by 11 inches, soft cover), Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos features more than 1,000 photographs of yo-yos to help collectors quickly and accurately make identifications.

Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos is the most comprehensive yo-yo guide ever published, containing coverage of the history of major manufacturers as well as the history of yo-yo contests. Featuring comprehensive alphabetical and numerical indexes cross referenced with photos Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos was designed to help a collector easily find the listing for virtually any yo-yo in hand. Promotional, premium and character related yo-yos not listed in any other reference can be found in the guide as well, along with a comprehensive listing of string packs, patches, pins, posters, trick book and other yo-yo related memorbilia.

Designed to aid yo-yo collectors, toy collectors and dealers, values were analyzed to reflect the realities of today's yo-yo collecting market. The guide also features chapters on grading yo-yos, dating tips, restoration, identification of fakes and reproductions, size and shape guides. This along with a handy glossary of hobby terms and a frequently asked question section round out the book.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

..Yo-Yo. Just saying the word brings a smile to the faces of adults and children of all ages. The fad that began in the late 1920s, and was predicted to last "shorter than a case of measles" now has produced its fourth generation of players.

Since being introduced to the United States in 1928, millions of yo-yos have been sold. Collector interest has now skyrocketed, increasing the values of yo-yos. Some rare models have sold for thousands of dollars. At a recent estate auction, one yo-yo sold for over $16,000.00. The yo-yo has now firmly established itself as a collectible piece of Americana.

Lucky's Collectors Guide To 20th Century Yo-Yos is the most comprehensive guide available to yo-yo collectors. It features:

Value Guide: a guide listing current values and descriptions of thousands of yo-yos and yo-yo related memorabilia.

Grading: detailed instructions on how to grade yo-yos.

Photos: over 1000 photographs of collectible yo-yos.

Memorabilia: listings and photos of yo-yo related memorabilia such as string packs, pins, posters and trick books.

History: the history of the yo-yo including interesting facts about yo-yos and the companies that produced them.

About the Author

Lucky Meisenheimer, M.D. is regarded as the foremost authority on the history and collecting of yo-yos. He has one of the largest private collections of yo-yos and memorabilia in the world. As a charter member of the American Yo-Yo Association he has served on the board of directors since 1993 and currently chairs the history and collecting committee. He is a writer for Fiend Magazine and produces the magazine's collecting column as well as having published many yo-yo collecting articles for other publications.

A world ranked Masters swimmer; Lucky began collecting yo-yos in the 1980s while attending various swimming competitions around the country. Lucky has competed in the National yo-yo championships and has performed on Nickelodeon's television show "What Would You Do". He believes you can never have too many yo-yos!

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Lucky J S Swim & Surf Inc; 1 edition (April 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966761200
• ISBN-13: 978-0966761207
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,569,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooray! Finally, the ultimate guide to collecting yo-yos., June 4, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos: History & Values (Paperback)

The guru of yo-yo collecting and writer of the collectors corner in Fiend Magazine, Lucky Meisenheimer, has made the long wait for his book worthwhile. Truly he has created the "bible" of yo-yo collecting. History, Yo-Yos, String Packs, Patches and Pins it's all there. Anyone serious about yo-yos should have this book whether they collect or not, but don't even think about calling yourself a collector if you don't have this book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lucky's Guide is the Definitive Word on Yo-Yo Collecting!, May 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos: History & Values (Paperback)

Lucky has assembled the critical mass of information that the yo collecting hobby has needed for so long. Now we can finally place our yo-yos into the historical context and understand values, rather than blindly guessing. Along the way, Lucky provides the best general yo-yo history yet published, along with 52 pages of glorious color photos. A must for every yo-yo player, collector, or other interested party.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Value is the Book Itself, March 1, 2000

By 

"chet-el" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos: History & Values (Paperback)

The first useful -and true- price guide for yo-yo collectors, it's also the perfect browsing book for us. The history needs some refining (following Donald Duncan's yo-yos after his company was taken by the courts is difficult, but the entry here was confusing even if you knew the background), but is at least 80% accurate. And you just can't beat those photos -- hundreds of photos of yo-yos forgotten or not even suspected! This book deserves to best-seller status, and to be updated each year. Buy several copies so Lucky can produce annual books for a living.