Chatter ring explained

Chatter ring
Othernames:Gyro Ring, Jitter ring
Country:New Zealand
From:1990s
To:present
Materials:metal ring, beads

A chatter ring (also known as a gyro ring or jitter ring) is a New Zealand toy ring of thick metal wire with several beads. The toy is used by swiping the beads to get them spinning, while keeping the ring turning.[1] Around fifty thousand rings were purchased in New Zealand at department stores, street markets and dairies in 1996,[2] and was a popular Christmas gift for children that year.[3] During this time, there were several mentions of chatter rings on both radio and television.[4]

2011 revival

The toys were originally popular in the 1990s, and had a revival in 2011 when Apple Activities Educational Toys hosted the Hawke's Bay Chatter Ring Reunion in Hastings.[5] Prizes were awarded in a lucky dip as well as for winners of a number of categories such as best performance, oldest verifiable ring, youngest player and oldest player.[6]

Toshiaki Sasaki, recognised as the world's number one chatter ring player, visited New Zealand for a twelve-day tour to support and promote the re-release of the rings.[7] The chatter ring has been played with by the former Mayor of Invercargill Tim Shadbolt.[8]

A new generation of chatter rings was launched by Murray Potts who described the unveiling of his newly developed and produced jitter rings as a case of "what goes around comes around". Potts had previously made them commercially, working out of Japan. He later worked with a toy maker in Taiwan to produce the new jitter rings and along with Hawaii, both New Zealand and Taiwan became the first locations to experience the toy.[9]

Chatter ring performances were included on an episode of New Zealand children's television series What Now [10] and at department store Farmers.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/blogs/procrastinator/6055121/Chatter-rings-The-fad-that-needs-to-die Chatter rings: The fad that needs to die
  2. http://www.scoopit.co.nz/story.php?title=jitter-ring-vs-chatter-ring-%E2%80%93-what-is-the-difference Jitter Ring Vs. chatter ring – what is the difference?
  3. http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/search/doc_view.php?d5=ffx95-03/text/1996/12/18/doc00001.html Children talk chatter rings
  4. https://archive.today/20130413233558/http://secure.scoop.co.nz/story.php?title=putting-a-face-to-a-name-the-jitter-ring-on-facebook Putting a Face to a Name: The Jitter Ring on Facebook
  5. Web site: Chatter Rings return to Hawke's Bay . 2013-03-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130531131445/http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/chatter-rings-return-to-hawkes-bay/1049104/ . 2013-05-31 . dead .
  6. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1103/S00795/hawkes-bay-chatter-ring-reunion-2011.htm Hawkes Bay Chatter Ring Reunion 2011
  7. http://www.scoopit.co.nz/story.php?title=world-no-1-chatter-ring-player-visiting-new-zealand-may-5%7E17 World No. 1 chatter ring player visiting New Zealand May 5~17
  8. http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/5134417/Southern-film-makers-shoot-to-success-in-48-hour-production Southern film-makers shoot to success in 48-hour production
  9. Web site: Toy with familiar ring gets jittery makeover . 2013-03-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130531131807/http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/toy-with-familiar-ring-gets-jittery-makeover/1052688/ . 2013-05-31 . dead .
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9q6SPRwmLY What Now - Kyle Chen's Jitter Ring tricks
  11. http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2011/jitter-ring-demonstration/auckland/north-shore Jitter Ring Demonstration