Tom Kuhn facts for kids

Tom Kuhn (also known as Dr. Yo) is an American dentist and a famous yo-yo designer. He lives in San Francisco, California. Tom Kuhn became well-known because he created new and better yo-yos.

The Story of Dr. Yo

Tom Kuhn loved yo-yos from when he was a kid. He remembered the old wooden yo-yos. But in the 1970s, most yo-yos were made of plastic. He didn't like them as much. He wanted to bring back the fun of wooden yo-yos.

Inventing the "No-Jive" Yo-Yo

Because he missed the old wooden yo-yos, Tom Kuhn decided to make his own. He designed a special yo-yo called the "No-Jive." This yo-yo became very popular and people still like it today. It helped change how yo-yos were made.

Help from His Patients

Even though he was a dentist, Tom Kuhn was very serious about his yo-yo designs. His dental patients even helped him!

• One patient was a lawyer. This lawyer helped him get a patent for his yo-yo ideas. A patent protects an invention so others can't copy it easily.
• Another patient told him to talk to NASA. NASA is the space agency, and they use amazing new materials. Tom Kuhn wanted to use these "space-age" materials for his yo-yos.

A Dentist and a Yo-Yo Master

Tom Kuhn kept working as a dentist while he was also designing yo-yos. He loved yo-yos so much that he even showed off his collection! In the waiting room of his dental office, which was in an old Victorian house, he displayed all his cool yo-yos.

Setting a World Record

In 1979, Tom Kuhn did something amazing. He set a Guinness World Record! He made the biggest yo-yo ever. It weighed a huge 256 pounds! That's heavier than a small car!