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[Larry D.]

Here’s a video which my contact Marc (a.k.a. Belgian Pie) in Taiwan just posted on YouTube.
Starting at around 5:40 into the video, one of those tops on the Coke bottles, will soon to be in my hands!   

[JNeff]

Wow,  that was incredibly enjoyable. Thanks for posting.

[Larry D.]

I was told by Marc, that the guy makes the tops himself.  He didn’t have new ones.  Initially he refused to sell one of his performance tops to Marc.  The tops he sold from his cart were different.   Marc offed him some money but the guy said “no way”.
The turning point came when Marc showed the guy the videos I sent from the 2014 Worlds.
This photo shows the moment of acquisition:

[ta0]

Wow! Fantastic acquisition!    

That Marc hassled for you for that top and got it is amazing!
You got a great contact in Daxi/Dasi!

What is the name of the performer?

[the Earl of Whirl]

Larry D......you are amazing!

[Larry D.]

Wow! Fantastic acquisition!    

That Marc hassled for you for that top and got it is amazing!
You got a great contact in Daxi/Dasi!

What is the name of the performer?

Fantastic is right!  Really amazing to me!  Wow!!!
This is wild.  The odds of us connecting from so far away, and Marc being so kind, and actually finding that person in the park, and him actually willing to part with one of his performance tops is remarkable.

I don't know the performers name yet.  I did ask Marc and here is what he wrote back...
“I should have asked his name, he had a performers card on his stand too, so I could have had a look but didn't (I was excited too). Anyways, I can find out somehow.”

I'll let you know as soon as Marc relays it to me.

Thanks for rotating the photo ta0 

[Larry D.]

The top just arrived!!!!!   

[lincolnrick]

Very nice.  The tip is interesting.  Is there a rod running through the body to a cap on the end? Can't quite see the top (of the top  )

[jim in paris]

super !
now ,you can test the target throws and the long wirewalkers .!!

(Marc is a cool cat!)
jim

[Larry D.]

Very nice.  The tip is interesting.  Is there a rod running through the body to a cap on the end? Can't quite see the top (of the top  )

Short of an x-ray it is difficult for me to tell if a rod might be running through the body, I don't think there is a rod. Here's a photo which I hope shows the Brass? collar surrounding the upper tip.  Sorry, it's the best I can do with my camera.

[Larry D.]

super !
now ,you can test the target throws and the long wirewalkers .!!

(Marc is a cool cat!)
jim

Yes indeed, Marc is one VERY cool cat! 

[ta0]

That is more than a top, it is a witness to great spintop stories!

Short of an x-ray it is difficult for me to tell if a rod might be running through the body, I don't think there is a rod. Here's a photo which I hope shows the Brass? collar surrounding the upper tip.  Sorry, it's the best I can do with my camera.

You could place the upper metal close to your ear and hit the tip with a spoon. If it is a continuous rod, acoustic sound will propagate through the rod and you may be able to tell. You could also heat the tip and see if the upper metal gets hot.

Is this Marc a Belgian living in Taiwan? How did you find him?

[Larry D.]

That is more than a top, it is a witness to great spintop stories!
...
You could place the upper metal close to your ear and hit the tip with a spoon. If it is a continuous rod, acoustic sound will propagate through the rod and you may be able to tell. You could also heat the tip and see if the upper metal gets hot.

Is this Marc a Belgian living in Taiwan? How did you find him?

Let's see if I got this right...heat the lower tip and touch the upper tip to my ear?  If I smell burning flesh and scream there's a rod!  (kidding  )

Yes, Marc is living in Taiwan.
In October of 2012 I joined a Forum in Taiwan, Marc, a.k.a. Belgian Pie answered my posting this past December.
I asked if anyone in that forum could help me in my quest.

[ta0]

Let's see if I got this right...heat the lower tip and touch the upper tip to my ear?  If I smell burning flesh and scream there's a rod!  (kidding  )

Even a better method, test electric conductivity. Just use the old electrician trick of touching with your knuckles so you can let go before getting electrocuted! 
Seriously, if you have a continuity tester/ohmmeter it would be the easiest way to check. A strong magnet could also do the trick.

[Larry D.]

I meant to write earlier..Yes, Marc is Belgian living in Taiwan.

I tried a heat gun as well as flame, the upper tip remained cool.
Hitting the lower tip did not produce acoustic sound from the upper tip.

[cecil]

When I bust it in half you will be able to see  if the rod goes all the way Thru. I have learned a lot with the koma. Mine does all the tricks I can do. I used a tip like James, and got a 65 foot wire walker, (good enough) now I've put a plastic cap on it and I just hit a four inch target at 20 feet.  I was going to hallow it out, but this is the BEST figting top I have now. I want another one. You should fight with two tops. Fighting with big tops, and long lines is so much fun. I hope more people buy a Koma, ant try it.

[Sabaspin]

Congratulations Larry!
That's an awesome top.
Is it a heavy dense wood or a light wood? Just curious.

[Larry D.]

This top weighs 379.8 grams, or 13.397 ounces.

It's a “veteran” performance top that has lived MANY spins MANY misses and MANY bumps on hard paving.
I think the wood is fairly dense.