Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Jack]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Antique-Wooden-Spinning-Toy-Top-Dated-1877-/161584468523

[the Earl of Whirl]

I say ornament.  I hope it is an ornament since that shape is so top heavy.

[mailman]

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Antique-Wooden-Spinning-Toy-Top-Dated-1877-/161584468523?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item259f2f522b

I'm guessing neither.  I'm wondering whether it might not be a plumb-bob, or something similar.  Perhaps it hung from a string to gauge verticality, for masonry work, or something....

[ta0]

I say top 

Here is the proof:





The first ad is from 1927. The one on the auction seems to say May 1877. I have one right now in my hand but it does not have any markings. I believe I have seen a patent, but I need to look it up.

The one on the auction has the pivot broken. The string would attach to this pivot and you could play them similarly to the Turkish tourist tops. They were called "girl's tops" because they were supposedly easier to play. I guess they could have been used as an example on that superbowl ad ... 

[the Earl of Whirl]

I am surprised. But, you have the proof.

Good connection with the Super Bowl ad about "play like a girl".  I would like to play like Val!!!

[ta0]

Found the patent for the swivel, and it is effectively from 1877: US Patent 190,421 by Andrew J. Davis of Pittsburg. Here is the drawing:



In the description of its use, the patent uses the generic term "child", not boy or girl.

The patent only has one claim and it is for the swivel, but interestingly it also mentions the weight ring which is prominent in the drawing: "The top C, represented in the accompanying drawings, is furnished with a metal ring, secured to the body of it, for the purpose of giving it greater force and a more steady action in spinning."

[Jack]

Moderator Note: I merged the thread below this message with the older thread above.
=========================


ooo check this out 

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/151843999832

[ta0]

A girl top. 

It is nice that the pivot looks intact (and string and button are probably original).

[Jack]

A girl top. 

............this i did not know lol 

[Jack]

i won this auction btw 
better late than never eh 

[Dick Stohr]

e-bay pic not available, over 90 days.

[Jack]

and so 1 year later i get around to showing off my purchase 
absolute pristine condition, the tip shows no sign it was ever thrown. the bail is so delicate its absolutely amazing the condition its in for it being so old eh  the string and button even apear original arent they??? the wierd part is absolutely no corrosion either, the thing must have been in a closed box or something for aaaaaages 

[cecil]

Nice looking top. I would love to hit it with one of my SUPERIOR FIGHTERS.

[ta0]

Looks mint, Jack! Congratulations!

But, have you thrown it? 
I find it more difficult to play with them than normal tops. That in spite of the fact that they were marketed in the 1910-1930's as "girl tops" as they were supposedly easier to use. Good way to sabotage the interest of girls in tops! 

[Lourens]

Hello Jack, what a wonderful top you have! In a super condition. I have the same one in my collection for many years. It is much older than said before. So I share the original advertisement from an catalog from 1880. If you read the add than you know that the patent of the top is dated 1877! Gould and I have  a discussion in the past about this top and both of us thought that with this top it may be was possible to write your name in the dust on the street.