In 1944, she scoured the dictionary for a fitting name, landing on “slinky,” which means “sleek and sinuous in movement or outline ... a very inventive story. This toy, made of metal ...

Nowadays, Slinky might be a throwback to a simpler toy era, but it's also fueled by a Connecticut private-equity firm and sells more than 500 products based on the concept and image of the original.