{{Short description|New Zealand toy}} {{Infobox toy |name = Chatter ring |image = 180px |caption = A boy playing with a ring |othernames = Gyro Ring, Jitter ring |type = |inventor = |country = New Zealand |company = |from = 1990s |to = present |materials = metal ring, beads |slogan = |website = }}
A '''chatter ring''' (also known as a '''gyro ring''' or '''jitter ring''') is a New Zealand toy ring of thick metal wire running through several smaller metal rings. The toy is used by swiping the smaller rings to get them spinning and vibrating, while keeping the ring turning.<ref>[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]</ref> Around fifty thousand rings were purchased in New Zealand at department stores, street markets and dairies in 1996,<ref>[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?] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20130413231827/http://www.scoopit.co.nz/story.php?title=jitter-ring-vs-chatter-ring-%E2%80%93-what-is-the-difference |date=April 13, 2013 }}</ref> and was a popular Christmas gift for children that year.<ref>[http://www.knowledge-basket.co.nz/search/doc_view.php?d5=ffx95-03/text/1996/12/18/doc00001.html Children talk chatter rings] {{subscription required}}</ref> During this time, there were several mentions of chatter rings on both radio and television.<ref>[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]</ref>
== 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/chatter-rings-return-to-hawkes-bay/1049104/ |title=Chatter Rings return to Hawke's Bay |access-date=2013-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531131445/http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/chatter-rings-return-to-hawkes-bay/1049104/ |archive-date=2013-05-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1103/S00795/hawkes-bay-chatter-ring-reunion-2011.htm Hawkes Bay Chatter Ring Reunion 2011]</ref>
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.<ref>[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] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207181124/http://www.scoopit.co.nz/story.php?title=world-no-1-chatter-ring-player-visiting-new-zealand-may-5~17 |date=February 7, 2013 }}</ref> The chatter ring has been played with by the former Mayor of Invercargill Tim Shadbolt.<ref>[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]</ref>
A new generation of chatter rings was launched{{when|date=May 2013}} 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/toy-with-familiar-ring-gets-jittery-makeover/1052688/ |title=Toy with familiar ring gets jittery makeover |access-date=2013-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531131807/http://www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz/news/toy-with-familiar-ring-gets-jittery-makeover/1052688/ |archive-date=2013-05-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Chatter ring performances were included on an episode of New Zealand children's television series ''What Now'' <ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9q6SPRwmLY What Now - Kyle Chen's Jitter Ring tricks]</ref> and at department store Farmers.<ref>[http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2011/jitter-ring-demonstration/auckland/north-shore Jitter Ring Demonstration]</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://blog.idphys.fr/2012/anneau-bavard/ L'anneau bavard, a.k.a. Chattering, a.k.a. Jitter ring] * [http://www.rose-hulman.edu/~moloney/AppComp/2001Entries/e04a/chatteringtoy.htm Apparatus Demonstrating the Dynamics of the Chatter Ring Toy] * [http://jaringa.web.fc2.com/index-e.html Japan Chatter Ring Association] * [http://www.fascinations.com Gyro Ring Fascinations] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130208003739/http://jitterring.co.nz/ Jitter Ring Official Website]
Category:1990s toys Category:Culture of New Zealand Category:2010s toys Category:Physical activity and dexterity toys