Gonk
Furry creature toy / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Gonks are novelty toys and collectibles[1] originating from the United Kingdom in the 1960s.
Created by English inventor Robert Benson, the toys gained popularity and were owned by celebrities including Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers.[1] The Gonks' signature features include a small, spherical body, a furry texture and two googly eyes.[citation needed] Some Gonks had outfits such as those of Merseybeat rockers and were marketed as collectibles. They were popular with children and their success was attributed to how they "can be made from almost any material and of any size."[2] The appearance of some of these toys has been compared to the op art movement.[3]
Redesigned (cylinders rather than spheres) gonks were introduced into Australia by Tony Bell[citation needed] in the 1970s. They were sold in skill testers and fairgrounds across New South Wales and Queensland.[citation needed]