The snap bracelet, a simple accessory that instantly coils around the wrist with a satisfying thwack, became an iconic schoolyard fad in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This item rapidly transitioned from an unassuming flat strip into a ubiquitous accessory for a generation of young people. Its appeal lies in the instantaneous transformation it performs. Unpacking the origins of this accessory reveals a story of accidental inspiration and engineering ingenuity.
The Creator and the Inspiration
The invention of the snap bracelet is credited to Stuart Anders, a former substitute teacher and coach from Fort Prairie, Wisconsin. Anders conceived of the idea in 1983, a time when he was exploring different avenues outside of education. The moment of inspiration occurred while Anders was sitting at his mother’s sewing table, where he began toying with a self-rolling tape measure.
He noticed how the metal tape measure would instantly curl up on itself, a self-coiling action that sparked the idea for a wearable item. Anders recognized the potential for a bracelet that could transition from a flat, straight form to a circular band by striking it against the skin. Covering this flexible steel with colorful fabric would create a functional and entertaining accessory.
The original prototype, which Anders called the “Slap Wrap,” consisted of a flexible piece of steel encased in a soft, decorative material. Despite his initial belief in the product, Anders lacked the necessary resources to manufacture and distribute it on a large scale. He kept the prototype in his possession for several years until a chance encounter with a toy designer’s agent finally set the commercial process in motion.
The Unique Mechanism
The instantaneous coiling action of the snap bracelet is achieved through the use of a specific material and engineering principle known as a bi-stable spring. The core of the bracelet is constructed from a strip of flexible stainless steel, often a high-carbon spring steel chosen for its elasticity and tensile strength. This material is designed to possess two stable states: a straight, flat configuration and a coiled configuration. When the straight band is struck against a surface, the impact triggers a rapid release of stored potential energy within the steel.
This energy forces the metal to quickly switch from its first stable state to the second, wrapping tightly around the object it strikes. The original “Slap Wraps” used steel approximately 0.15 millimeters thick, later refined to ensure durability and safety. The metal band is sealed within a protective covering of fabric, silicone, or plastic to prevent the sharp edges of the steel from causing injury.
This outer layer also serves the aesthetic purpose of offering various colors and patterns that made the accessory a fashion statement. The successful function relies entirely on the precise dimensions and material composition of the flexible metal strip.
Bringing the Slap Bracelet to Market
The “Slap Wrap” concept gained traction when Anders connected with Philip Bart, an agent for toy designers, who presented the idea to Eugene Murtha. Murtha, who had just opened the Main Street Toy Company in Simsbury, Connecticut, in 1988, recognized the product’s mass-market potential. He agreed to distribute the item.
The product made its debut at the 1990 American International Toy Fair in New York City, where it immediately became a sensation among buyers. The Main Street Toy Company secured an initial order of 250,000 units from KB Toys, signaling the start of a massive fad. The bracelets sold for around $2.50 each and quickly became a widespread craze among children and teenagers.
The combination of low manufacturing cost and high demand led to the company moving one million bracelets in just three months. This success led to a flood of counterfeit versions and knock-offs that often used thinner, lower-quality steel. This sometimes resulted in safety concerns when the metal broke through the fabric covering. Despite the issues that arose from the intense competition, the Slap Wrap secured its place as a defining novelty item of the early 1990s.