WW2 No. 470 ACME Clicker. The original paratrooper cricket. Nickel

The ACME No. 470 Clicker. The original paratrooper cricket.

Nickel clicker version.

In 1944 the US Airborne purchased commercially made crickets or clickers to aid with the identification of friendly troops after they had landed behind enemy lines. The manufacturer was an English company called J Hudson based in Birmingham with the brand “The ACME”.

We have now managed to have the US paratrooper airborne cricket remade by the original company in England on the original machines!

These are fantastic quality and a lot better than any other replica on the market, as they are exactly the same as the original ones as they have been made using the same machines and the original dies! The high quality of these airborne crickets are obvious as soon as you open the box and the sound of the click is awesome.

If you want the best paratrooper cricket then this is it "The ACME" clicker.

History of the airborne clicker.

J Hudson and Co Ltd of Birmingham was selling "The ACME" clicker before 1944 and is in there catalogue from the early 1940's where a nickel version on the clicker is illustrated (nickel not chrome). In the J Hudson catalogue of the 1940's it is called "The ACME No. 470 Clicker". The ACME No. 470 Clicker was originally made as a time keeping device for band and orchestra leaders back in the 1920's and most of them produced by the Hudson factory in England where sold to America. 

The American paratroopers decided that they needed a device that would make a noise that was not too obvious to draw attention but distinctive enough for other US paratroopers to hear and know that a friendly was on the other side of the ditch or tree. Somehow (General Maxwell D. Taylor of the 101st Airborne Division claims credit for finding them) they found the No 470 ACME clicker by J Hudson & Co Ltd, Birmingham England. The ACME clicker passed the test and was found to be ideal for the task of the US Airborne.

A large order was placed for The ACME clicker and the factory in Birmingham increased production of them. The order was made up of existing stock which where nickel and the reminder where made from brass. There are no records to say how many brass and nickel crickets where issued but from genuine examples that are known to have been issued to the US Airborne most are brass with a ratio about 1 nickel to every 7 or 8 brass ones. So both nickel and brass crickets where issued in time for the D-Day invasion of Normandy in 1944.

The No 470 ACME Clicker features:

• Made today using the same original dies and on the original machines that where used to make the ones issued to the US Airborne in 1944.
• Made in the same factory as the ones made in 1944.
• Exact size of the originals.
• Correct stamping on the end ""The ACME made in England" as the original 1944 one's.
• Quality click sound.
• Best quality cricket available.
• Made in England.
• Hole for cord.
• Brass.
• Packed in an old looking cardboard box.

 These are simply the best airborne paratrooper cricket you can buy.

We also have the brass version for sale.