CompanyYo-yo BrandEst. 1976–2001
Playmaxx
Playmaxx, Inc. was a Tucson, Arizona yo-yo manufacturer founded in 1976 as Duncraft (soon renamed Duracraft, then Playmaxx in 1988) by Donald F. Duncan, Jr., son of Duncan Toys founder Donald F. Duncan Sr. Later run by Tom Van Dan Elzen and his son Hans “YoHans” Van Dan Elzen, Playmaxx’s ProYo line became one of the best-selling fixed-axle and early transaxle yo-yo families of the 1990s yo-yo boom, expanding into the aluminum Cold Fusion and Ace series and the patented Brake Pad response system used across its Turbo Bumble Bee, ProFire, and Vid-e-Yo models. Products were co-branded and distributed internationally through partners including Hasbro (Koosh) and Bandai (Hyper Loop, Japan). Duncan Toys acquired Playmaxx’s assets in late 2001; former Playmaxx principals Hans Van Dan Elzen and Ben McPhee went on to found YoYoFactory in 2003.
