Jolly Jumper

History

The first Jolly Jumper was invented by Susan Olivia Poole in 1910 and produced for the retail market in 1948.

As a child Olivia watched her elders strap their babies to cradle boards to carry them as 'papooses'. While working in the fields, a mother would often hang the papoose on a sturdy tree limb and soothe the baby by occasionally pulling on the limb to create a bouncing motion.

Olivia remembered this in 1910 when her first child, Joseph, was born in Ontario, Canada. She made him a swing and called it a Jolly Jumper. She made the harness or saddle from a cloth diaper and a blacksmith created a soft-action steel spring. An axe handle was used for the spreader bar.

In 1942 Olivia and her husband moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. When grandchildren arrived, she continued to make Jolly Jumpers as she had for all of her seven children and by 1948 Jolly Jumpers were ready for mass production.

Olivia Poole and her son, Joseph Poole patented Susan’s invention in 1957 and manufactured 'Jolly Jumpers' at Poole Manufacturing Co. Ltd. in British Columbia, Canada.

Fortunately, this wonderful Canadian invention is still being produced today in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada under its original name, Jolly Jumper. There are three models available; one with a door clamp (item #104), one on a portable stand (item #108) and one with a Musical Mat (item #105).

There are now over 200 items being manufactured under the Jolly Jumper trademark.