Clackers,Klackers,Click-Clacks and Ker-Knockers

[Seventies Child]

Re: Need Help Finding Click -Clacks... I Think

These were usually found wrapped around telephone wires in the street too.

[The Low Country]

Re: Need Help Finding Click -Clacks... I Think

I'd forgotten about these. I have a pair in the loft (cord ones that is) I think the ridged ones were a more 'safety concious' version, brought out at a later date. The best bit was when you managed a full circle for a matter of seconds before you were rolling around on the floor gripping your wrist! Oh happy days :-)

[Seventies Child]

Re: Need Help Finding Click -Clacks... I Think

I think some kids actually got broken wrists so that's why they may have got banned.

[shilton dipper]

Ker Knockers

Remember these?


They were banned at my primary school as they were considered dangerous........personally i think it was because of the boys complaining as they were better than their conkers

[sweep]

Re: Ker Knockers

Were they the same as Clackers. never heard this name before.

[shilton dipper]

Re: Ker Knockers

Were they the same as Clackers. never heard this name before.

yes...........different areas had different names i guess

[ClaudineJones]

Re: Ker Knockers

We used to call them knockers. I'd completely forgotten they were originally called ker knockers! Did anyone actually know someone who broke their wrist with them or was that just scaremongering?

[kazboot]

Re: Ker Knockers

We called them Clackers and Ker Knockers.
I never heard of anyone breaking a wrist, but it really hurt me a few times!

[sweep]

Re: Ker Knockers

Had one for about a week before they were banned and promptly confiscated by mum. never heard of anyone actually hurting themselves.

[darren]

Klackers.

Clackers also known as Ker Bangers and numerous other names are a toy which was popular in the early 1970s.
They consisted of two plastic spheres suspended on string which were swung up and down so they banged against each other, making a clacking sound.
Clackers are similar in appearance to the Argentinian weapons, bolas.

They are formed out of two hard plastic balls, each about two inches 5 cm in diameter, attached to a tab with a sturdy string.
The player holds the tab, with the balls hanging below.

Through a gentle up and down hand motion, the two balls swing apart and back together, making the clacking noise that give the toy its name. With practice, it is possible to make the balls swing so that they knock together above the hand as well as below.

in the seventies they got banned as the balls sometimes shattered injuring the kids eyes.

[Trickyvee]

Re: Need Help Finding Click -Clacks... I Think

These were click clacks

could you be looking for clackers

String clackers were just before my time but I did own those hand held ones shown above. It was in the early days of them as there was only one type and colour available which everybody had - fluorescent yellow handle with one fluorescent yellow arm and ball and one fluorescent orange arm and ball.

I do remember seeing string clackers on telephone wires - survivors from the pre-ban halcyon days. At the time I didn't know what they were and resorted to calling them 'cherry things'