The very first jack-in-a-box was in fact a Jill-in-the-box. The box was machined by Mr Reid from Leytonstone and Spring Steel of Walthamstow supplied the spring inside the doll. Unfortunately, Spring Steel had a minimum order size of 10,000… which meant a lot of Jill-in-a-boxes. It was essential to get a spring that was both flexible but durable enough to work for years. Having placed her order, Ann went to test a prototype, only to find that they had already manufactured the entire 10,000. Unfortunately, the springs were not strong enough, and (on the suggestion of her husband Hugh) Ann tried stretching it. And it worked a treat, 10,000 times.
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