Betty James
Encyclopedia
Betty M. James was an American
businessperson who came up with the name for the Slinky
her husband Richard T. James invented. She ran James Industries, the firm that manufactured the toy James starting in 1960, after her husband left the firm and the family.
She was born as Betty Mattas on February 13, 1918 in Altoona, Pennsylvania
. She attended Altoona Area High School
and then Pennsylvania State University
, leaving when she was married to James.
Her husband, an engineer, conceived of the toy in 1943 while working at a shipbuilding company in Philadelphia, after a torsion spring
fell off of a table and started flipping end over end. The following year, Betty came up with the name Slinky after leafing through the dictionary and thinking that the word described the motion of the spring. The couple made 400 of the toys and convinced the Gimbels department store in Philadelphia to carry the toy for Christmas 1945 displayed on a ramp. These first models were all sold within 90 minutes at a price of $1 each.
In the face of declining sales, her husband left the family and moved to Bolivia
in 1960 to join what she described as a religious cult. She took over management of the firm, and responsibility for the family's six children, running it until the company was taken over by Poof Products of Plymouth, Michigan
in a 1998 acquisition. The Slinky Dog helped turn around the sales slump and a new version issued after a version featured in the 1995 movie Toy Story
was another top seller.
By the time of her death in 2008, Slinkys were priced from $4 to $5, with Slinky Dogs selling for about $20. More than 300 million Slinkys in all their variations had been sold in her lifetime.
She was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame
in 2001.
Betty died at age 90 on November 20, 2008 of congestive heart failure
at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
in Philadelphia. She had lived in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
, where James Industries was headquartered.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessperson who came up with the name for the Slinky
Slinky
Slinky or "Lazy Spring" is a toy consisting of a helical spring that stretches and can bounce up and down. It can perform a number of tricks, including traveling down a flight of steps end-over-end as it stretches and re-forms itself with the aid of gravity and its own momentum.-History:The toy was...
her husband Richard T. James invented. She ran James Industries, the firm that manufactured the toy James starting in 1960, after her husband left the firm and the family.
She was born as Betty Mattas on February 13, 1918 in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
. She attended Altoona Area High School
Altoona Area High School
Altoona Area High School is the public high school for the Altoona Area School District in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The high school serves the populations living in Altoona, Logan Township, and a small portion of Tyrone Township...
and then Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, leaving when she was married to James.
Her husband, an engineer, conceived of the toy in 1943 while working at a shipbuilding company in Philadelphia, after a torsion spring
Torsion spring
A torsion spring is a spring that works by torsion or twisting; that is, a flexible elastic object that stores mechanical energy when it is twisted. The amount of force it exerts is proportional to the amount it is twisted. There are two types...
fell off of a table and started flipping end over end. The following year, Betty came up with the name Slinky after leafing through the dictionary and thinking that the word described the motion of the spring. The couple made 400 of the toys and convinced the Gimbels department store in Philadelphia to carry the toy for Christmas 1945 displayed on a ramp. These first models were all sold within 90 minutes at a price of $1 each.
In the face of declining sales, her husband left the family and moved to Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
in 1960 to join what she described as a religious cult. She took over management of the firm, and responsibility for the family's six children, running it until the company was taken over by Poof Products of Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is an enclave completely surrounded by Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
in a 1998 acquisition. The Slinky Dog helped turn around the sales slump and a new version issued after a version featured in the 1995 movie Toy Story
Toy Story
Toy Story is a 1995 American computer-animated film released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is Pixar's first feature film as well as the first ever feature film to be made entirely with CGI. The film was directed by John Lasseter and featuring the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen...
was another top seller.
By the time of her death in 2008, Slinkys were priced from $4 to $5, with Slinky Dogs selling for about $20. More than 300 million Slinkys in all their variations had been sold in her lifetime.
She was inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame
Toy Industry Hall of Fame
The Toy Industry Hall of Fame recognizes the contributions of toy-makers around the world. It is maintained by the Toy Industry Foundation, an arm of the Toy Industry Association.-External links: at the Toy Industry Association...
in 2001.
Betty died at age 90 on November 20, 2008 of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is a hospital affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System located in the University City section of West Philadelphia. The hospital was founded at its current location in 1874 by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine,...
in Philadelphia. She had lived in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
Hollidaysburg is a borough in Blair County, Pennsylvania, on the Juniata River, south of Altoona. It is the county seat of Blair County. It is part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area and is one of the communities that comprises the Altoona Urban Area...
, where James Industries was headquartered.