CompanyYo-yo BrandEst. 1982–1995
Hummingbird Toy Company, Ltd.
Hummingbird Toy Company, Ltd. was a wooden yo-yo manufacturer founded in 1982 by furniture maker Brad Countryman in Arcade, New York. Starting from a woodshop using scrap materials, Hummingbird quickly gained attention for high-end, handcrafted wooden yo-yos. The company’s first commercial run of 10,000 units caught the eye of major retailers including L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, and Land’s End, establishing Hummingbird as an internationally known brand by the late 1980s.
Known for multi-layer laminated dyed wood construction and meticulous craftsmanship, Hummingbird yo-yos became favorites among competitive players including Dale Myrberg, Jennifer Baybrook, and Dennis McBride. The company faced significant challenges in 1989 when a severe flood damaged the factory. Despite recovery efforts, business decisions and manufacturing shifts led to a transition away from yo-yo production by the early 1990s. The company eventually closed in 1995 after moving manufacturing operations to China, shifting focus to wooden railway sets and other products.
Today, vintage Hummingbird yo-yos remain highly collectible pieces of yo-yo history, prized for their wooden construction, elegant design, and association with the sport’s golden age.