[Eric in the Ozarks]

Growing up an Army Brat in Japan, I found fireworks of every variety in most of the toy stores. My favorite were “cracker balls,” about the size or a small marble that would explode if thrown on a hard surface.
A handful of these and a sling shot spelled a ride home with the MPs.

[Fresh Wind]

I remember having little exploding balls the size of BBs that were probably smaller versions of what you played with. Great fun!

[50sDad]

My parents, Strictly Republican in MOST things, would not buy me fireworks. You know what happened? I hung around the Swim Club and picked up the Black Cats that DIDN’t go off, tore the casings until they had a “fuze” and played with THEM. Thank goodness their protecting me taught me to endanger myself in new and interesting ways!

[EyeGuy]

“My favorite were “cracker balls,” about the size or a small marble that would explode if thrown on a hard surface.”

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Did you know the fire-engine red ones had triple the explosive power of the other colors?

Well that was the kid mythology in our neighborhood anyway, and we pretty much had ourselves convinced it was true.

We were big stuff, until a young adult down the street showed up with some REAL M-80s (”1/8 of a stick of dynamite was the kid legend on that one”), and REAL cherry bombs.