History
Matsui Gaming Machine’s second licensed Coca-Cola yoyo, released in 2014, went further into retro territory than the 2010 Classic. Where the Classic adopted modern ball bearing technology, the 1970s model used a plastic spool bearing — a deliberate middle ground between the fixed wooden axle of the originals and the fully modern bearing system of the Classic. “The general ambience of the original Coke yo-yo has been faithfully reproduced,” per product documentation.
The 1970s comes in two versions: one with the standard English Coca-Cola script logo, and one with Japanese katakana lettering — acknowledging the Japanese market where the 1979 Coca-Cola campaign had been particularly formative. Like the original Russell Supers, it shipped with cotton string (with a recommendation to replace it for extended use), and the non-disassembling body echoed the sonic-welded construction of the vintage pieces.
At 57.82mm diameter and just 29.17mm width, the 1970s replicates the slimline profile of the original Russell Champion and Professional models more closely than any other modern licensed release. The 40.3g weight is lighter than vintage specimens, but the silhouette is unmistakably period-correct.
