The Slinky: The Spring That Learned to Walk

The Slinky is a toy that seems to have a mind of its own. Set it at the top of a staircase, give it the smallest nudge, and the coils begin to transfer themselves downward. One end falls. The other end rises. Then the motion repeats, step by step, in a soft metallic shuffle. It looks like a trick. It is really a carefully balanced piece of engineering. And the person who first noticed that balance was not trying to make a toy. He was trying to keep sensitive military equipment from being shaken apart at sea. This is the story of the Slinky. A naval spring, an awkward little product, a family business in trouble, and one of the most persistent toys ever made.