iTopSpin
Trading, buying, selling => What you want, what you have => Topic started by: whiptop on January 28, 2011, 06:45:23 AM
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About a year ago I last posted to the forum about a source for nice whip tops from China. I had corresponded with the seller from Alibaba.com at the time. On the off chance they were still available through them I sent off another inquiry the other day. Turns out they are still selling in bulk. I don't know how to best arrange these things, but perhaps if a forum moderator is willing to do so several of us could go in together and arrange a large shipment for a good deal. I have contact information and will check the forum later to see if there is any interest.
Unfortunately, when I checked today it said "this item is no longer available" >:(
Those tops looked really good but were a little too expensive. Hopefully we'll find another supplier.
By the way, I have some ideas for an improved whip top I want to try. The other day I did some top whipping for the collective video and had lots of fun. I can see a billion Chinese playing with my idea ;D ( with knock offs >:( ).
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I am interested. Those steel tops looked serious.
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After 9 winters I finally adventure into ice skating, my lower back still regrets it. I think that activity is overrated, remember I am a tropical guy, I think that the real problem with it is that the fricking ice is way too slippery. But I remember the pictures of the Chinese men whipping their tops on ice and really wished to have one there.
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Whiptop tells me these are the kind of tops we are talking about:
(http://www.ta0.com/Button-n-String/whip-tops.jpg)
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Count me in. I am interested.
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yup.
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Count me in!
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I want a couple of those!
Count me in the list! :)
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I am interested, do we know prices?
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Do want right now.
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The seller's original listing with the prices can be found here:
http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs/267021618-whipping-top-wholesalers.html (http://www.aliexpress.com/product-gs/267021618-whipping-top-wholesalers.html)
This webpage still lists the product as "no longer available", and has probably remained unchanged in almost a year. But, as mentioned earlier, I have renewed my contact with them and was told, just two days ago, that they are still willing to sell. I have yet to learn how the transaction will be arranged, but I hope to provide more details about this when I receive them from the seller. It does look like we do have enough interest among forum members to justify ordering a larger quantity!
In the interest of being an informed consumer, can anyone find additional sellers for quality whip tops? It may come in handy in case this one doesn't follow through. Translation seems to be the biggest obstacle right now. There are many websites listing nice Chinese whip tops, but few are able to correspond in English. I do not know Chinese.
I have a playlist on youtube of whip top videos, for the curious among us:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=94C461637E629AE8 (http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=94C461637E629AE8)
Get a bag of popcorn and you can see all 17 in 28 minutes, or skip to the more fantastic videos. Some of the tops are heavier than an adult! The video "whipping top demo" was emailed to me by my contact and shows the whip tops they are selling (those pictured above).
If you haven't seen it already, the thread in which the seller was originally identified (along with a lot of other good information and links to other sellers) is here:
http://www.ta0.com/forum/index.php?topic=600.0 (http://www.ta0.com/forum/index.php?topic=600.0)
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I want to know more about the whips. I made a few whip tops, they were easy to make, but I got side tracked on what the whip should be like, and ended up making three multi-layer plaited nylon para-cord whips. I did a quick video after I made the first: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1676494836250 (http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1676494836250)
Rob Tsou has made some whippage also, he sent me some tips.
I've tried to make a quick and easy whip out of hardware store items, i'm close, but it's not quite there yet. The key to good whipping action is tapered weight.
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I did a quick video after I made the first: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1676494836250 (http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1676494836250)
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>:(
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I made a collage of still images showing details of several Chinese whipping tops and the whips used.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FwKp4Eu-CX8/S6Ulm_nf_uI/AAAAAAAAAIw/wvdcwPp4RVA/s1600-h/whiptopall.bmp (http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_FwKp4Eu-CX8/S6Ulm_nf_uI/AAAAAAAAAIw/wvdcwPp4RVA/s1600-h/whiptopall.bmp)
Notice in the first still image, a twist on the idea of a "bearing top". :)
The whips themselves vary widely in design. Several sites advertise cheap looking bull whips (the kind with a "cracker" at the end) as whips to be used with their tops. This is what I was thinking of trying. Have you tried these Neff? They certainly have tapered weight.
I have managed to learn the relevant terminology for whip tops in Chinese (very useful in searching for images and retailers):
??? = da tuoluo, spintop or whipping top
??? = draw top in Chinese
??? = bian tuoluo, lit. "whip top" in Chinese
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I did a quick video after I made the first: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1676494836250 (http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1676494836250)
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>:(
;D I want to be friends with Ta0 McSpin again.
I've tried a nylon snake whip with some success. There are three basic types of whips; bullwhips (think Indiana Jones but no wrist loop) stock whips (long handle with a knuckle between the whip and the handle) and a snake whip, which is just a bullwhip with no handle, just a knob. Each shape has a practical purpose. Nylon whips with not stretch with moisture like leather will, so that seems good, but nylon will not create much friction on the surface of, say, a 4" PVC whip top ;)
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Nice video Chris! It took me at least half an hour to download over my current dialup connection, and then I only saw half. :( Thankfully I enjoy a better connection when I head to town. :) Any images or videos of your whip tops? Or any of Rob Tsou's? The PVC idea sounds interesting.
I get the impression from the Alibaba retailer (whom I am still waiting to hear back from) that they are marketed as fitness or exercise equipment. And I get that. The swinging of the whip that has to hit a large and heavy top, it makes sense. The larger tops, on the order of several pounds, are the interesting ones, with or without a slit in the side to create a humming noise.
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This was the first go-round. Made from hickory and cane from my yard.
(http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p194/yophosis/tops/Y29udGVudDovL2NvbS5zaGlueWNvcmUucGljc2F5ZnJlZS9leHRlcm5hbC9waWN0dXJlcy8xMjg3MzY1NTY0.jpg)
The second attempt (first PVC attempt) now rests at the Spin Top Hall of Fame :)
This is the latest model:
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_W_mZDGzO8Wo/TUYaWLdom-I/AAAAAAAAAJc/rG5XDJq_TZY/s720/2011-01-30%2019.23.13.jpg)
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Thanks for posting the whipping top videos. Chris how about a picture of the tops in action.
;)
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Neff's prototype of a whip top sits in the cool air of the winter Hall of Fame.....but I am sure the place would heat up quickly it if were in use!
Thanks again for the Hall of Fame donation, Neffster.
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Those tops look great Chris. I'd like to see them in action as well. Perhaps Alan Gray could also turn some and put a nice metal tip on them. (I haven't asked, but if he's reading this, his website does say “send us specifications for your own custom design”.)
I'm holding out for the Alibaba retailer still, but I'm also thinking of turning in some favors, taking out an IOU, and contacting a friend of a friend of a friend who is fluent in Chinese to help get the ball rolling (er, the top spinning).
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These both have steel nails for tips. My basement isn't quite big enough for whip tops, and the concrete on my driveway is a little rough. I'll need to take it to juggling club next month...
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I am planning to be at Toy Fair the week after next (14, 15, & 16 Feb) and one of the vendors is: Alibaba.com
Booth/Room # 5083 Map It
Mr. David Wang
3979 Freedom Circle Suite 328
Santa Clara, CA 95054
United States
Phone: 408-748-1200
Email: davidwang@alibaba-inc.com
URL www.alibaba.com (http://www.alibaba.com)
Is there anything I can do for you there with them?
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I believe Alibaba.com is just a (business-to-business) marketplace. The seller of the top is just advertising in Alibaba.
One day I would like to be at the New York Toy Fair. It sounds like the place for me ;D
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Me too. I would love the New York Toy Fair!
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New York Toy Fair is very easy describe: SENSORY OVERLOAD!!!!!!!!!!!
I can only do 3 or 4 rows of booths and then I must take a break.
Really good SWAG. It is a lot of fun. Even better when you are working not walking the show.
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If you had the choice between 5.8, 7.5, 9, and 11cm metal whip tops, which would you buy?
I've found another way to get quality Chinese whip tops, and it's probably better too. The Chinese version of ebay is taobao.com and there are agents with good reputations online who can assist English speaking customers find the products they want. They are also experienced with international shipping and delivery, which can otherwise be more costly.
http://taobaofieldguide.com/taobao-guides/taobao-agents (http://taobaofieldguide.com/taobao-guides/taobao-agents)
Anyway, long story short, I found this beautiful 11cm diameter stainless steel whip top that looks like some kind of artillery weapon on taobao and will write to an agent to see what it will cost me after their services and shipping is factored in. (If this works out, I'll also order the recommended whip to use with it.)
See the top here:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=7289057645 (http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=7289057645)
Which is an item sold from this seller:
http://shop35931881.taobao.com/ (http://shop35931881.taobao.com/)
The website says that this is a video of how to throw the top:
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/-jQihJ09D2Q/ (http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/-jQihJ09D2Q/)
And how to replace the tip bearings (which they also sell):
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/BsElVlnH9n0/ (http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/BsElVlnH9n0/)
I wonder, are all their metal tops bearing tipped?
Here are the recommended whips to use with the 11cm top, first the nicer one:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=4452074661 (http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=4452074661)
And the cheaper "ash wood" whip:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=4126388733 (http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=4126388733)
(I think this one actually comes with the top for free when you buy, nice.)
If anyone decides to try going this route to buy a whip top, share your experience. I'll be sure to let you know how this goes for me. Oh, the 11cm top, without shipping or any other fees included, at today's conversion rates is about 42 US dollars.
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Excellent job tracking down these whip tops, Mr. Whiptop!
The tops in those two videos seem to be of the 7.5 cm size.
Using bablefish translator on that 11 cm top I get that the top is made of pure 304 stainless steel and weighs 3 kilograms (6.6 lb)! The upper plate is 4 mm thick! That is a massive top!
For $8 more I would definitely also order the whip.
I am really surprised that they use bearings. A fixed tip would make the top correct itself and stand up while a bearing will not. On the other hand, a fixed tip top will travel in circles while the bearing one stays in place and that would be an advantage.
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thanx for the search , mr whiptop !
count me in for the 11cm
and on this video, it's a killer whip :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e_qzeJRvFs&feature=player_embedded# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e_qzeJRvFs&feature=player_embedded#)
i like the "whipping" movement like bull whips
pretty scary too !!
jim
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Whereas the retailer selling on alibaba advertised discounted prices when ordering bulk quantities of tops, I see no such discounts from the taobao seller. Unless there is an appreciable savings by ordering bulk, it may be simpler to individually purchase any orders we'd like to place. Thoughts?
Haowanju appears to me to be one of the best retailers on taobao for whip tops, but I haven't done a thorough search to confirm this. I think that would be best done by pasting ??? (Chinese for whip top) into the search box on the main page for taobao. This returns about 269 results in the "toy" category, 145 in "educational toys" and 165 results in the "sports/fitness" category, with a few other minor categories also returning results. Going through these results should help find any other possibly interesting items, as would visiting haowanju's main website.
The purchasing agent I contacted was very prompt in replying to my email. I got a reply in about three hours. I was informed that online business is temporarily slow during the Chinese lunar holiday until 8 Febrary, and some taobao retailers have reduced hours during this time.
There are several interesting videos linked to in the product descriptions for the whip tops, but my dial up connection is preventing me from viewing most of these right now. :(
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Nice find on the video Jim.......Whips and Chains, is the web board venturing into new, scarier territory? :o
;D ;D ;D
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Here is an overview of what one could potentially buy from Taobao in the area of quality whip tops:
The previously mentioned metal whip tops from Haowanju:
http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=110627603 (http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=110627603)
Very nice Jujube wood whip tops up to 18cm from Mutuoluo:
http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=74742078 (http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=74742078)
These look like high quality wood tops. I like the "set of a 14cm diameter top and 3m whip":
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=4445650830 (http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=4445650830)
More whip tops, and a picture of a huge 32cm diameter top (192 US dollars):
http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=31556209 (http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=31556209)
Some spintop club really needs to have one of these! The pictures are obviously taken in a whip top store in China, I'd love to visit it.
A great variety of whip tops (including the style formerly available through Alibaba). http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=476421749 (http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=476421749)
These guys sell a 31cm diameter whip top (305 US dollars):
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=8478850784 (http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=8478850784)
These sellers carry stainless steel tops that appear to lack the bearing tips seen on the Haowanju tops.
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=8478962456 (http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=8478962456)
Quite possibly the same retailer formerly seen on Alibaba, with identical assortment of tops:
http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=66237568 (http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=66237568)
Another store that carries a similar style (FYI, these tops are made of bakelite with stainless steel outer sheath, allowing a wide range of forms):
http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=99989622 (http://store.taobao.com/shop/view_shop.htm?user_number_id=99989622)
Interesting side note, from the product list it looks like you can buy fixed tips for the bearing tip tops and just pop them in. When one wears out get a new one.
Incidentally I noticed that one of the videos I posted above links to a video of someone starting what looks like the 11cm top by putting a stick through the hole in the top and yanking a cord wrapped around it before whipping it to keep it going. That's probably the easiest way to start something that large and heavy!
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Wow! That is a lot of research you did!
I would start by buying a small one to see how this works and if there are no problems go for "la piéce de résistance".
I am curious to see what your taobao agent quotes you as fees and shipping.
By the way, after reading your post I looked for my laser and leds Chinese wooden whip top that I got on Ebay a couple of years ago. I had a lot of fun whipping it around the house. It is 6.5 cm wide.
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A top being spun outside your "restricted area" in the house? Was a certain someone out at a meeting or doing some shopping while this whip topping occurred around the house?
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A top being spun outside your "restricted area" in the house? Was a certain someone out at a meeting or doing some shopping while this whip topping occurred around the house?
Ok, I confess. I was having a lot of fun whipping the laser top around the house until I was stopped and reminded I could not do that outside the restricted area (which has carpet so is not good for whipping tops). Now, I have to go, I am alone at home . . . Where is my whip ;)
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I cannot laugh as I have certain restricted areas also.
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By the way, after reading your post I looked for my laser and leds Chinese wooden whip top that I got on Ebay a couple of years ago. I had a lot of fun whipping it around the house. It is 6.5 cm wide.
I got one of those whip tops last year. The whip it came with worked well enough, but it started to unravel too quickly. Having a good whip can make or break the experience.
I want to know more about the whips. I made a few whip tops, they were easy to make, but I got side tracked on what the whip should be like...
The photos and text on this item description page are a basic how-to primer for making your own whipping top whip.
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=4126388733 (http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=4126388733)
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Via a friend at work (fluent in Chinese) we contacted the vendor on this site:
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=7859375178 (http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=7859375178)
No luck :(
They do not ship outside of China :'( :'(
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Thanks for trying. We will get hold of them, eventually.