Tracing the Fun-Stick

On March 03, 2009 in General

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I was introduced to Pogo Sticks through my son’s favourite fluff and toy character- all so naughty Tigger. For a long time I thought Tigger’s precious possession was merely an author’s imagination – a fun stick with a pole and a handle at one end and foot pads at the other and a spring that is so aptly used by Tigger for hopping around. But to my pleasant surprise I discovered such fun things are for real. I can’t explain the moment of joy and the thrill that transpired between me and my six-year old as we both jumped up in glee during this moment of great revelation.

Subsequently I researched on these fun devices and found out some interesting facts. As most not-so-ignorant ones like me would already know that pogo stick was perhaps designed by a farmer in Burma for his daughter (named Pogo) to ease her mode of commute to a temple everyday. Apparently this device was made of wood and lacked a spring. An American traveller named George Hansburg happened to be in these parts of the world and was impressed by this hopping device. On his return to home, he made a jumping stick of his own, attaching a spring to the wooden stick contraption of the farmer’s device, and Hansburg patented his “Pogo Stick” in 1919. Hansburg improved these further and then manufactured these from his own factory called SBI Enterprises. And those sticks, called “Master Pogos,” were the bouncing wonders that are known and loved all over. Apparently, America was caught in “Pogo fever” in 1920s with road shows, races, ad even marriages being performed using these bouncing devices.

The US patent & Trademark Office database shows there are at least 18 Patents in US on Pogo sticks, half of them being Design Patents. Pogo sticks have metamorphosed from the early wooden design to some real hi-tech devices that are suitable for adult use as well. Popular models for adults include Vurtego, Flybar, and BowGo that allow the user to do stunts, back flips and other tricks besides the regular bouncing.

As I drift away into the Tiggerland with my son and the Pogo stick, hope these fun wonders keep coming our way.

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