# What's the Name of THIS Classic Toy?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-this-classic-toy/394528>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 4, 2007, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-this-classic-toy/394528 "2007-03-04T12:43:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-this-classic-toy/394528/21 "2007-03-05T22:47:23Z")

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[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist]  
Anyone know the name of that toy that went “zip” when it moved, “bop” when it stopped, and “whirrrrr” when it stood still? I think it had two green buttons somewhere…  
[/QUOTE]

No, I never knew just what it was, and I guess I never will. 🙂

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**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-this-classic-toy/394528/22 "2007-03-06T03:29:46Z")

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Sounds marvellous, though.

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**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-this-classic-toy/394528/23 "2007-03-06T07:23:29Z")

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[QUOTE=KP]  
“Kerbangers”: two lucite spheres connected by a string wuth a ring in the middle.  
[/QUOTE]

Speaking of which, I actually think that’s a brand name for two spheres (not lucite aka plexigass, more like stone), with a string connecting them, and a ring to hold on to… but the set I had, in roughly 1983, had some sort of GUNPOWDER on the outside, which made the “clack” sound much more pronounced, and would even cause a spark and leave a smoke trail.

Of course, after several hundred “clacks”, the explosive coating wore away and they became normal “clackers”.

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**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\
**Post date:** [March 6, 2007, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-name-of-this-classic-toy/394528/24 "2007-03-06T07:33:29Z")

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Upon Googling, I see that the name “kerbangers” is not a trademark… and was indeed used by many companies selling the child’s toy.

Anybody remember what I’m talking about? These would cause a mini-explosion, which, either real or perceived, produced MORE energy than mere elasticity.

They also had burn marks on both spheres from every “clack”, and wore out quickly, becoming normal “clackers”.

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