# Inventing the Slinky
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventing-the-slinky/71711
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports
**Created:** [July 8, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventing-the-slinky/71711 "2001-07-08T17:43:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@AJCook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AJCook)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2001, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventing-the-slinky/71711/1 "2001-07-08T17:43:19Z")
I had heard once, as a kid many years ago, that the slinky was invented as an attempt to develop a compact radio antenna for field radio operators in war; being a fun toy, too, was “accidental”.
Cecil’s recent description makes no mention of the antenna connection, and makes it sound like it was primarily developed for the fun it turned out to be.
Is the antenna theory bunk?
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### Author:  [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2001, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventing-the-slinky/71711/2 "2001-07-08T17:55:15Z")
I always thought it was invented by the late Mr. Loobner, who was born without a backbone.
Ten points to the first poster to point out the source of that…
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2001, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventing-the-slinky/71711/3 "2001-07-08T17:58:19Z")
Lisa Loobner’s old lady?
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [July 8, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventing-the-slinky/71711/4 "2001-07-08T17:59:25Z")
“old lady” harrumph.
Well, obviously not. “Old man” I mean to say.
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### Author:  [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)
#### Post date: [July 9, 2001, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventing-the-slinky/71711/5 "2001-07-09T01:13:35Z")
Welcome to the SDMB, and thank you for posting your comment.
Please include a link to Cecil’s column if it’s on the straight dope web site.
To include a link, it can be as simple as including the web page location in your post (make sure there is a space **before** and **after** the text of the URL).
Cecil’s column can be found on-line at this link:
[Did the inventor of the Slinky join a cult in Bolivia? (06-Jul-2001)](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/010706.html)
* * *
moderator, «[**Comments on Cecil’s Columns**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=1)»
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### Author:  [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)
#### Post date: [July 10, 2001, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventing-the-slinky/71711/6 "2001-07-10T16:36:30Z")
The plot erm… oscillates metallically: Cecil’s other slinky column doesn’t endorse the origin, but doesn’t rule out the function either [Can playing with a Slinky change the channels on your TV set?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_270.html)
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### Author:  [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2001, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventing-the-slinky/71711/7 "2001-07-12T05:43:36Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by KneadToKnow \*
> \*\*Lisa Loobner’s old lady? \*\*
KneadToKnow wins 10 points and a visit from the Noogie Patrol.
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [July 12, 2001, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventing-the-slinky/71711/8 "2001-07-12T16:55:31Z")
The suspense was _killing_ me!
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### Author:  [@cheezfri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheezfri)
#### Post date: [July 16, 2001, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inventing-the-slinky/71711/9 "2001-07-16T19:18:45Z")
I was pretty sure that I saw the inventor of the Slinky on a recent Discovery Channel show called something like “Our Favorite Toys.”
His wife states that he is dead. I don’t remember for sure, but I thought they did interview the inventor himself. But maybe I was thinking of another toy, or maybe they interviewed his son or something. If I find out for sure, of if anyone else knows, let’s post it here.