70s toy - Klackers
Klackers comprised two acrylic balls, often brightly coloured, on a string with a small handle in the middle. It was a playground craze that swept Britain and America in the early 70s. The idea was to move the handle up and down to make the balls click together. The really skilled could make the Klackers meet at the top and bottom of a circle; it required practice. They made a noise when they clacked together, hence the name.
Klackers were also marketed as Ker-knockers, Clackers and Klickies.
Whilst children loved the Klackers, or Ker-knock-ers, parents and teachers were concerned about the safety aspects. They could cause bruised hands and arms and the balls could shatter into dangerously sharp shards of plastic. Some schools banned them from the playground. Like most crazes, Klackers disappeared as quickly as they appeared.
More on Klackers
The BBC's I Love the 70s section has a short piece on Klackers as the toy of 1971 - see BBC I Love 1971 - Klackers. See also Clackers on Wikipedia.
"I loved my yellow klackers. Eventually they were banned from my Junior school as they were deemed dangerous!!! What utter rubbish, they were fab!! Bring back all the toys from the late 60's early 70's!" Nina Ilsley
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