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One of the oldest traditional toys in South Africa is the spinning button or whirling toy better known as a “woer-woer.” However, it seems as if this simple little toy has not only been used to keep kids entertained in South Africa, but all over the world for many, many centuries, so it can be seen as a traditional toy in many countries.
Simple whirling toys were mentioned in English literature as early as 1686.
Whirling toys that were made of coins that were too old or thin to be of any value have been excavated in early American towns, military campsites and plantations.
Apparently Native Americans like the Sioux and Blackfeet tribes made the toys out of a disk of rawhide, with sinew cords, and two tough sticks for handles.
The early American pioneers adapted this method into a leather toy known as “gewgaw.” Gewgaws were a whole class of handmade whittled novelties that were also known as “Pretties.” According to the dictionary, a “gewgaw” is a showy, but worthless trinket. And showy they were because the wooden disks had scalloped edges and they were even painted and decorated to create new patterns when the toys were spun.
Other names for these toys were “Button Buzzers” or “Buzz Saws” because of the buzzing sound the the disk or button makes when it is spun at full speed.
You can make this toy as simple as you like or you can take some time and come up with a little masterpiece of your own. Boys will really enjoy finding one or two of these in their party favour bags.
For the common button and string toy, you need pieces of string about 32 inches (80cm) long and nice big buttons with two or four holes. Thread the string through one hole and back through the second hole. Tie the ends of the string together in a tight knot.
To play: Slide the button into the middle, giving you room to place your fingers on either side. Holding the string loosely, swing the button around in a circle to wind up the string. Pull outwards with your fingers and let the spinning button pull them in again. Now, rhythmically, but gently, pull and let slack, pull and let slack. If you’re doing it correctly the toy will start buzzing and the rhythm will continue.
Caution: Don’t pull too hard, the string may break and even the button or disk can break apart.
Idea: Use two buttons for each toy. The buttons will clap together as they spun and this will add extra sound and fun to these old toys.
The buttons can be replaced with discs made out of heavy cardboard or thin plywood. It is also not necessary to keep to circles, you can cut all kinds of shapes out of the cardboard. Make two holes in the centers of the shapes and decorate.
Handles can be made from drinking straws or pieces of dowelling about 5 cm (2 inches) long to prevent the string from cutting into your fingers.
You can of course also let the party guests make their own spinning buttons as part of the party activities.
Warning: Children/party guests should be made aware of the danger of holding the buttons too near to the hair of other party guests. The spinning button and string can get caught in hair and the button will have to be cut out of the hair. The toys should also be kept away from the kids’ faces and eyes.
Last bit of trivia: More than 300 United States patents have been awarded for button spinning toys. The technical name for a button-on-a-string toy is “string torsion device.”
Have a spinning good time making these toys for your kid’s birthday party!
Resources for certain information in this post:
http://www.historylives.com/toysandgames.htm
http://www.nativetech.org/games/buzzer.html
