It's a hand-eye coordination toy. You scatter them, then bounce the ball off the floor a bit. You have to quickly pick up a certain number of 'jacks' (the metal bits) before the ball hits the floor.
Ah, knucklebones! I don't think it is or was a familiar toy in Germany, so I only know the French version which consists of five metal knucklebone-like shapes, so I didn't make the connection. They also don't have a ball, but throw one of the bones up. (There is an image on top of the French page.) I always thought it was called "knucklebones" because your finger knuckles hurt when the thrown knuckle falls on them.... *lol* It's an awesome toy! When I was small I got giftet a set from some friends from France, and totally loved it. How cool you still have yours!
It's a hand-eye coordination toy. You scatter them, then bounce the ball off the floor a bit. You have to quickly pick up a certain number of 'jacks' (the metal bits) before the ball hits the floor.
How lovely that you have your original set of Jacks. I think we had a set at home in a little plastic pot, but I don't remember actually ever playing it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacks_(game)
It's an awesome toy! When I was small I got giftet a set from some friends from France, and totally loved it. How cool you still have yours!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacks_(game)