Pedro Edralin Flores (26 April 1896 – 3 January 1964)[1] was a Filipino businessman and yo-yo maker who has been credited with popularizing yo-yos in the United States. He patented an innovation to yo-yos that used a loop instead of a knot around the axle, allowing for new tricks such as the ability to "sleep."[2][3]
While working as a bellboy, Flores read an article about a self-made millionaire who made his money by selling a ball attached to a rubber band. At this point he remembered the yo-yo (previously known as the bandalore), a game which has been played for hundreds of years in the Philippines. Bringing it all together, Flores saw a good market opportunity in the US, and the ability to go into business for himself.
Flores Yo-yosedit
Flores Yo-yo (Circ. 1928-1929)
Between 1928 and 1932, Flores started and ran the Yo-yo Manufacturing Company in Santa Barbara before selling the company and trademark to Duncan who continued to market and sell Flores yo-yos alongside the Duncan line.
Flores initially made yo-yos for neighborhood children by hand, but soon started buying machinery to produce them more quickly. Approximately a year after Flores opened his yo-yo business, his company was selling 300,000 yo-yos annually.[4] Flores has been credited with popularizing the yo-yo in the U.S.,[1] but he never claimed to have invented the yo-yo. Yo-yos were introduced to the Philippines in the 1800s. The word "yóyo" was a Tagalog word that means "come and go"[1] or "come back."[4] Flores is sometimes referred to as the original patent holder of the yo-yo. Although he didn't patent the first yo-yo in the U.S., his patent included the Filipino innovation[2] of using a loop instead of a knot around the axle. This is known as an "unresponsive yo-yo" and allows for additional tricks such as the ability to "sleep."[2] The ability to do tricks was one of the main selling points for Flores' yo-yos, and he created some of the first yo-yo trick competitions.[1][2] Other types of yo-yos (Bandalores) had already been patented prior to the company's existence.
Flores stayed involved with yo-yos most of his life. He founded a yo-yo manufacturing company in Santa Barbara, California, in 1928, founded the Flores Corporation in Hollywood (6301 Sunset Blvd.) and cofounded Flores and Stone in Los Angeles (1938 Hyperion Ave. in Silver Lake) c. 1929. In the 1930s, he promoted yo-yo contests along with Duncan. He cofounded the Chico yo-yo company in 1950 and founded the Flores Corporation of America in 1954.[5]
Duncanedit
Between 1930 and 1932, Flores sold his interest in his yo-yo manufacturing companies for greater than $750,000, to Donald F. Duncan Sr.,[6] which during the depression of the 1930s was a fortune. On this transaction Flores was quoted saying "I am more interested in teaching children to use the yo-yos than I am in manufacturing of yo-yos."[citation needed]
Taking his own words to heart, he became one of the key promoters in Duncan's early yo-yo campaigns. During 1931-1932, Flores was instrumental in setting up a large number of the promotions in the cities where the early Duncan contests were being held. In relation to his contests run just two years earlier with his Yo-yo Manufacturing Company, the new Duncan contests were vastly different. These contests now required a series of tricks similar to modern day contests with ties being broken by the number of loop the loops completed.
^ abcd"No. 2796: The yo-yo". www.uh.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
^Goto-Jones, Chris. "The High-Stakes World of High-End Yo Yos". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
^ ab"Biography of Pedro Flores | Thoughtco". thoughtco.com. Retrieved 2020-01-02.
^Hirahara, Naomi (2003). Distinguished Asian American Business Leaders. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 56. ISBN978-1-57356-344-4.
^Bellis, Mary (2019-05-19). "Biography of Pedro Flores, Father of the Yo-Yo". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
Sourcesedit
Meisenheimer, Lucky J. (1999). Lucky's Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo-Yos: History and Values. Orlando, Fl.: Lucky J's Swim & Surf, Inc.
Hirahara, Naomi. (2003). Distinguished Asian American Business Leaders. Greenwood Publishing. pp. 56–58. ISBN1-57356-344-7.
April 12, 2024
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Pedro Edralin Flores 26 April 1896 3 January 1964 1 was a Filipino businessman and yo yo maker who has been credited with popularizing yo yos in the United States He patented an innovation to yo yos that used a loop instead of a knot around the axle allowing for new tricks such as the ability to sleep 2 3 Pedro FloresBornPedro Edralin Flores 1896 04 26 April 26 1896Vintar Ilocos Norte Captaincy General of the PhilippinesDied 1964 01 03 January 3 1964 aged 67 Coshocton Ohio U SOccupationYo yo makerNationalityAmerican FilipinoAlma materUniversity of California Hastings College of the Law Contents 1 Early history 2 Flores Yo yos 3 Duncan 4 References 5 SourcesEarly history editPedro Flores was born in Vintar Ilocos Norte Philippines and came to the United States in 1915 He attended the High School of Commerce in San Francisco 1919 1920 and subsequently studied law at University of California Berkeley and the Hastings College of Law in San Francisco Flores dropped out of school and moved to Santa Barbara California where he worked at odd jobs to make a living While working as a bellboy Flores read an article about a self made millionaire who made his money by selling a ball attached to a rubber band At this point he remembered the yo yo previously known as the bandalore a game which has been played for hundreds of years in the Philippines Bringing it all together Flores saw a good market opportunity in the US and the ability to go into business for himself Flores Yo yos edit nbsp Flores Yo yo Circ 1928 1929 Between 1928 and 1932 Flores started and ran the Yo yo Manufacturing Company in Santa Barbara before selling the company and trademark to Duncan who continued to market and sell Flores yo yos alongside the Duncan line Flores initially made yo yos for neighborhood children by hand but soon started buying machinery to produce them more quickly Approximately a year after Flores opened his yo yo business his company was selling 300 000 yo yos annually 4 Flores has been credited with popularizing the yo yo in the U S 1 but he never claimed to have invented the yo yo Yo yos were introduced to the Philippines in the 1800s The word yoyo was a Tagalog word that means come and go 1 or come back 4 Flores is sometimes referred to as the original patent holder of the yo yo Although he didn t patent the first yo yo in the U S his patent included the Filipino innovation 2 of using a loop instead of a knot around the axle This is known as an unresponsive yo yo and allows for additional tricks such as the ability to sleep 2 The ability to do tricks was one of the main selling points for Flores yo yos and he created some of the first yo yo trick competitions 1 2 Other types of yo yos Bandalores had already been patented prior to the company s existence Flores stayed involved with yo yos most of his life He founded a yo yo manufacturing company in Santa Barbara California in 1928 founded the Flores Corporation in Hollywood 6301 Sunset Blvd and cofounded Flores and Stone in Los Angeles 1938 Hyperion Ave in Silver Lake c 1929 In the 1930s he promoted yo yo contests along with Duncan He cofounded the Chico yo yo company in 1950 and founded the Flores Corporation of America in 1954 5 Duncan editBetween 1930 and 1932 Flores sold his interest in his yo yo manufacturing companies for greater than 750 000 to Donald F Duncan Sr 6 which during the depression of the 1930s was a fortune On this transaction Flores was quoted saying I am more interested in teaching children to use the yo yos than I am in manufacturing of yo yos citation needed Taking his own words to heart he became one of the key promoters in Duncan s early yo yo campaigns During 1931 1932 Flores was instrumental in setting up a large number of the promotions in the cities where the early Duncan contests were being held In relation to his contests run just two years earlier with his Yo yo Manufacturing Company the new Duncan contests were vastly different These contests now required a series of tricks similar to modern day contests with ties being broken by the number of loop the loops completed References edit a b c d Pedro Edralin Flores www findagrave com Retrieved 2020 01 24 a b c d No 2796 The yo yo www uh edu Retrieved 2018 02 02 Goto Jones Chris The High Stakes World of High End Yo Yos The Atlantic Retrieved 2018 02 02 a b Biography of Pedro Flores Thoughtco thoughtco com Retrieved 2020 01 02 Hirahara Naomi 2003 Distinguished Asian American Business Leaders Greenwood Publishing Group p 56 ISBN 978 1 57356 344 4 Bellis Mary 2019 05 19 Biography of Pedro Flores Father of the Yo Yo ThoughtCo Retrieved 2021 01 03 Sources editMeisenheimer Lucky J 1999 Lucky s Collectors Guide to 20th Century Yo Yos History and Values Orlando Fl Lucky J s Swim amp Surf Inc Hirahara Naomi 2003 Distinguished Asian American Business Leaders Greenwood Publishing pp 56 58 ISBN 1 57356 344 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pedro Flores inventor amp oldid 1196846163, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
