The originals of this interesting toy were found in British army camps having been used by soldiers to pass the time of day.  They were made of various materials such as worn-out coins, buttons, bone or pewter.

By slipping the fingers of the left and right hand through opposite ends of the string and gently pulling in opposite directions, the wizzer will rotate in first one direction and then the other.  It takes a bit of practice, but before long you will be a master!  The holes around the outside cause it to produce a soft whirring noise as it spins, hence the name "wizzer."

In the old days, a boy at school would run a wizzer into the pigtails of the girl sitting at the desk in front of him, causing an awful tangle in her hair.