The Slinky toy that “walks” is 80 years old

Slinky is one of the most famous and beloved toy brands in the United States, a true American classic.

But few readers probably know that this spring was invented back in 1943.

Its inventor and creator is US naval engineer Richard James.

He experimented with springs to combat the ship’s swaying. One day he dropped a twisted wire on the floor, it turned over funny and jumped up and down.

In 1945, James and his wife Betty began mass-producing a children’s toy that became popular throughout the world.