iTopSpin

Current Posts => Collecting, Modding, Turning and Spin Science => Topic started by: silvertop on November 01, 2009, 09:42:02 PM

Title: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: silvertop on November 01, 2009, 09:42:02 PM
Here is a link to some pictures of a small portion of my top collection that I exhibited at the American Association of Woodturners convention in Rhode Island a few years back... 2002

http://www.flickr.com/photos/topcollection/sets/72157604889091585/

Just for kicks below is a picture of my two Watts tops!  That big one is not hollow -  I saw it spun once, but don't remember who did it.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: ta0 on November 01, 2009, 11:20:40 PM
That's a magnificent sample of a collection! I am drooling on the keyboard . . .

Mark Hayward had posted a link of this on the old board. You can find the comments in this thread (http://www.topspinning.com/toptalk/viewpost.php?post=9538).
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Jeromy K. on November 01, 2009, 11:41:36 PM
I would love a shot at throwing the big one. That is an amazing collection.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Watts' Tops on November 06, 2009, 11:00:48 PM
Don,
  How neat to see Watts' Tops on display.  I put larger points on the big ones now then the one you have.  It looks like you use the 4 inch one.  Great.
Walt Watts  (Watts' Tops
Prov. 3"5-6
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 01, 2018, 11:10:12 PM
Seems like we reopened this thread in 2018 so we could talk about who got what from his collection.  I recognize a few items that are now in the Hall of Fame.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 06, 2018, 08:33:39 AM
I may not be in Miamisburg as I am typing this.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: JNeff on November 06, 2018, 11:09:57 AM
Hmmmmm. Are you making another Rochester trip?
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Jeremy McCreary on November 06, 2018, 11:56:44 AM
I may not be in Miamisburg as I am typing this.

Replying from an undisclosed location.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 06, 2018, 02:17:38 PM
I have a 15 passenger van and have hijacked some innocent Rochester inhabitants.  The charge against me should not be too bad as of yet, since I have not crossed state lines.   Yet, I soon plan to leave this locale and hope the authorities (Shootist and Co.) do not find me.

JNeff have you ever heard of the Walden Galleria?
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: butterfingers on November 06, 2018, 03:58:13 PM
I have a 15 passenger van and have hijacked some innocent Rochester inhabitants.  The charge against me should not be too bad as of yet, since I have not crossed state lines.   Yet, I soon plan to leave this locale and hope the authorities (Shootist and Co.) do not find me.

JNeff have you ever heard of the Walden Galleria?

I live in the Rochester area and thought I sensed a disturbance in The Force this afternoon. Now I know why. Have a safe trip!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Jeremy McCreary on November 06, 2018, 05:17:20 PM
...thought I sensed a disturbance in The Force this afternoon. Now I know why.

Force, schmorce! Trekkies like me know that what you really picked up was the church van's wake in the subspace tachyon field.  >:D
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: butterfingers on November 06, 2018, 07:02:14 PM
...thought I sensed a disturbance in The Force this afternoon. Now I know why.

Force, schmorce! Trekkies like me know that what you really picked up was the church van's wake in the subspace tachyon field.  >:D

...I'm picturing the Enterprise with 'Miamisburg or Bust' stenciled on the side.


(https://thumb.ibb.co/n9QdVA/images-q-tbn-ANd9-Gc-QGZVn-O30ju-Mrw-Ob0t-Vwa-Io-NPYZAi-QZDfye-ERFAGMn-P06qp-LN.jpg) (https://ibb.co/n9QdVA)
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 06, 2018, 08:12:02 PM
I like that idea.  "Miamisburg or bust".  It has been another quick but eventful trip to Rochester.  I am now safely back in Ohio but still have a few hours of driving.  I can report that the L shaped room with a small office is now totally empty of tops.  It still has a few display cases but Don and company did an amazing job in there.  Anyone want a nice solid wood rolltop desk that is still there.  I love it but my van is full.

Great progress has been made in the long room with two other rooms attached.  Still, there were some hidden gems there and I talked Don out of Nimbus and the top lamp.  I may have heard a few more stories.  One of my favorites is the mysterious former employee who called himself Zonkers.  He also may have used the moniker Mike Harris but that was not his real name.  He may have been hiding from something but worked hard and was quite creative for a while and then suddenly disappeared.  After some more conversation about him I told Don about a member of this forum named Ex-Toycrafter.  He read his posts from 2010 and said "that's him."  He only ate hot dogs.  Sadly, no one has seen him for a while and he may have died.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: JNeff on November 06, 2018, 10:18:09 PM
Walden Galleria? Yes. I may be there tomorrow. Its a great mall.  Anyways, was that the last of Dons' Collection or is there still another trip in the plans? Sorry I missed it.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 07, 2018, 02:14:04 AM
This is a late night report from the hall of fame.  It is 2am and all is unloaded from the van.  I made it back safely and so did all of the remaining parts of Don's collection.  Well, except for the bulb in his top lamp.  That was shattered on the van floor.  But I put another bulb in it and the lamp is working fine.  I am looking at it right now.  Looks like we might have a bit of good ole Rochester dirt back here in the Burg!!!

Sorry Larry, still no sign of your dreidels.....yet.  All the boxes from the recent haul are in the hall ready to be opened and displayed.  Speaking of displays, I got excited when I saw another Duncan top display.  I wondered if it could be Bearing Kings.  Nope, Ripcords.  Still, some nice tops!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: butterfingers on November 07, 2018, 07:18:13 AM
  I may have heard a few more stories.  One of my favorites is the mysterious former employee who called himself Zonkers..... Sadly, no one has seen him for a while and he may have died.

Good to know you made it back OK. Zonkers is not someone I had heard of before. I took a moment to check out his posts on the forum and found him alive and active on ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/usr/zonkers-collection

I am sure Don would be able to contact him on ebay through their message service if the forum messages don't get through.

I can confirm that we packed quite a few dreiidels in those boxes. Hopefully you will find what Larry's interested in.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Larry D. on November 07, 2018, 08:10:38 PM
I can confirm that we packed quite a few dreiidels in those boxes. Hopefully you will find what Larry's interested in.

Humm…

Thanks for the update butterfingers!  :)

Perhaps Mike may find them while unpacking.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 07, 2018, 10:42:09 PM
When I was returning the van today, I took one last look under the seats to make sure there were not any escapees.  Good thing I looked as I found a little metal finger spinner.  The top said "Sears", which is quite ironic as our local Sears store near the car rental business is in the process of closing.  I took the top into the store and showed a number of Sears workers.  Each one nodded with me as we remembered when Sears was, indeed, tops.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 08, 2018, 12:30:15 AM
I opened a lot of boxes tonight.  I saw some dreidels but not the large quantity that Larry had set aside.  I did find two large bags (a gross each?) of Halloween tops.  Rats, just a few days too late for this year.  I also found an empty Captain Crunch cereal box which reminded me of the full box of this cereal we found at the Burg fest in late August.  We were joking about trying to get some people to try it on a video or at some big event (worlds next year in Cleveland?).  The box came up missing so someone must have picked it up and has some ideas.  I was feeling a bit let down that some good potential humor slipped away.  I was reflecting on this tonight as I was opening more containers and then......there it was!  Another box of Captain Crunch.  I started laughing.  Then I found another.  And then another.  And then another.  And then another.  Amazing!!!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: JNeff on November 08, 2018, 05:03:20 PM
Keep going Mike. Like a kid in a candy store.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 08, 2018, 06:01:27 PM
Thanks, JNeff.  Those rascals by the names of Butterfingers and Mailman have been sneaky.  They have been surprisingly quiet and now I know why.  I found five more full boxes of Captain Crunch cereal and another 6 box covers without the cereal.  They knew more were coming and were keeping quiet about it.  They were probably snickering while I was first talking about those full boxes!!!

I am putting eight empty boxes (not Captain Crunch boxes) out for the trash.  I have been able to shelve or condense that many so far.  I can get around the hall of fame a little easier now.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: butterfingers on November 08, 2018, 06:51:32 PM
Thanks, JNeff.  Those rascals by the names of Butterfingers and Mailman have been sneaky.  They have been surprisingly quiet and now I know why.  I found five more full boxes of Captain Crunch cereal and another 6 box covers without the cereal.  They knew more were coming and were keeping quiet about it.  They were probably snickering while I was first talking about those full boxes!!!

Guilty as charged! I recall Mailman and I were pretty amused by the Cap'n Crunch boxes. Silvertop has a good eye for anything top related and the Cap'n Crunch qualified for sure! As we were packing Don Olney would say, "That can go to Mike" or "That's for Mike" - and we'd pack it up - just following orders from a harsh and unyielding taskmaster...and we just kept finding more and more cereal boxes. We threw some out that were damaged so you didn't get all of them.

I'm glad you see the humor in it. Maybe you can establish a breakfast nook in the museum.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: mailman on November 08, 2018, 07:21:58 PM
I wonder whether that full pallet of Cap'n Crunch we sent to Ohio via common carrier has arrived there, yet.....
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: ta0 on November 08, 2018, 11:55:31 PM
Wow! Wow!  :o

Remind me about the Cap'n Crunch cereal boxes. What's the relation to tops?
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 09, 2018, 08:42:41 AM
I did not get the full connection until this last trip to Rochester.  Captain Crunch sort of became the Cracker Jack of the breakfast cereals.  On the internet I found huge collections of toys people have gotten from Captain Crunch boxes.  Each one of the boxes Don saved has a picture in the corner of a top that is the toy inside.  I always thought Don was so crazy about tops that he just had to buy the whole thing and never got around to taking out the spin top prize.  This brings me to the rest of the story.  It turns out that Don designed the top they used and received a nice royalty from it all.  He did not make the tops (they are made out of plastic and he is a wood man) but he came up with some good help for them, most especially the unique tip which is not a point but a plus sign.  So, all those Captain Crunch boxes are a reminder to him of a job well done which, oddly enough, makes me happy to have all those items.  They will make a nice display and bring me lots of smiles every time I walk into the hall of fame!!!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Renee on November 09, 2018, 09:16:01 AM
Those empty cap'n crunch boxes are going for $7.50 on ebay


https://www.ebay.com/itm/1991-Capn-Crunch-Z-Z-Zip-Top-offer-Cereal-box-shm243/301816026370?hash=item4645a31502:g:7nYAAMXQlUNRRPTM:rk:7:pf:0 

(https://thumb.ibb.co/ja4hdV/captain-crunch-top.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ja4hdV)
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: butterfingers on November 09, 2018, 11:12:47 AM
- I had no idea he designed the top. Don never mentioned it. I just assumed that his interest in it was because it was a non-top related product that mentioned or pictured a spin top. Thanks for sharing the story!

Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: ta0 on November 09, 2018, 11:43:19 AM
:o I was expecting the premium top inside but the story of Don designing them makes it much more interesting.  8)

Here is an auction for just the top that came inside: www.ebay.com/itm//292533920876

(https://image.ibb.co/f0WR7q/image.png)

and another from 1990: www.ebay.com/itm/182499330491

(https://image.ibb.co/bCJOnq/image.png)
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Jeremy McCreary on November 09, 2018, 02:40:38 PM
Larry introduced me to Don's top designs 2 years ago, and I've been a big fan ever since. Don's a master of the spinning top as a platform for optical effects and counter-intuitive "choreographies" (motion sequences during spin-down). These are increasingly high-priority design goals for me as well. I'm still a stickler for minimizing wobble when it's not part of the intended choreography, but spin time often takes back seat.

... another from 1990: www.ebay.com/itm/182499330491

Since tops mix colors under the same additive rules used for RGB screens, I have a hunch as to what this one might look like at speed, and I bet it's good. But optical tops are full of surprises, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

One thing's for sure -- this would be a wild one under a strobe light, where you'd see speed-dependent color-mixing and stroboscopic effects all at once.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: silvertop on November 10, 2018, 09:32:01 PM
Glad you got home safely!  Pretty empty around here.. Did find a box that was supposed to go with you, but is still here.  Found a recent listing on EBay from ex-toycrafter so rumors of his demise are evidently happily premature.  Lots of other non-spinning stuff to still go over, plus all of The Toycrafter tops, toys, paperwork. photos, catalogs, samples, etc are still here and I hope to soon start writing a history of my business, using all the saved stuff as reminders and inspiration!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 11, 2018, 10:38:09 PM
Hey silvertop!  Glad you found us here with your collection.  Yes, I arrived home safely after a couple nice stops for walks, including a visit to the Walden Galleria.  Sorry I did not call you when I arrived home but it was super late and I made it even later by unloading when I arrived.  The collection is really interesting, though, and I am learning all kinds of things.  Here is one of my questions.  Do you remember anything about a top purchase from France?  The total for the tops is something like $40 but then the total charge is over $400!  Was that really the cost of shipping?  Or maybe I am just totally confused here.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: silvertop on November 13, 2018, 08:43:04 PM
Not sure what you are referring to on France.... is there a receipt in the stuff that you are referring to? Can you send me a photo of it??  Very glad all went well with the trip back.  I think I mentioned  earlier that I found a box that was packed for you, but missed the bus!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 14, 2018, 03:09:26 PM
Ha ha!  I cannot put my hands on the bag right now but I have another question until then.  The little metal finger spinners you made with retro ads on them are great spinners.  Did you make them at your workshop?  You have a bunch of unique names and companies on them.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 16, 2018, 12:09:13 AM
By accident, I called Don.  We had a good conversation (even if it was by accident) and he told me more of the background of those little metal finger spinners that advertised different things (sometimes some quite unusual things).  The Toycrafter sold them but they were actually made by the Parisian Company.  He said they are a company that makes buttons.  I looked it up and I think he is referring to the Parisian Novelty Company.  Their website says "as the name suggests, they manufactured novelties such as advertising toys.  They had a preference for novelties that used celluloid as a major component in their manufacture."

I was stunned when Don said they would order tops in lots of 5000!!!  He said when The Toycrafter was really rolling they went through those tops pretty well.  There are now quite a number of these tops in Miamisburg.  They are terrific finger spinners and always well balanced.  Here is an example.....

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/ANTIQUE-DATED-1916-OYSTER-CRACKER-ADVERTISING-SPINNING-TOP-PARISIAN-NOVELTY-CO/142049148482

(https://image.ibb.co/fqprN0/image.png)

(https://image.ibb.co/bGX320/image.png)

(https://image.ibb.co/gN0vFL/image.png)
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: ta0 on November 16, 2018, 10:51:50 AM
Wow! I had no idea that the same company that made the old advertising celluloid tops made the similar-looking finger tops of Toycrafter, so many years after. The original patent was US Pat. 1,160,618, Novermber 16, 1915, by Louis L. Joseph from Chicago.


(https://thumb.ibb.co/kOQes0/image.png) (https://ibb.co/kOQes0)


Some tops from Parisian Novelty reference a different patent: US Pat. 1,267,558, May 28, 1918, by Joseph Komorous from Chicago.


(https://thumb.ibb.co/hmuB5L/image.png) (https://ibb.co/hmuB5L)


I only see a slight difference in the shape of the axle. There is also an earlier patent, US Pat. 1,139,119, May 11, 1915, by Isidor Heidenreich from Chicago, for a very similar celluloid advertising top that I also suspect is related to Parisian Novelty. But that one had a metal axle and I don't now if it was produced.


(https://thumb.ibb.co/fhBcUf/image.png) (https://ibb.co/fhBcUf)


Note that the "celluloid" part is only a clear cover over the printed paper with the advertising, which goes over a metal disc.

The website says:
Quote
In November 2008, the button division of the Parisian Novelty Company was acquired by the Matchless Group, also started in Chicago in 1885, and renamed Matchless Parisian Novelty, Inc.
So I guess they finally stopped making tops ten years ago. Or perhaps that division continued under another name.  :-\
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 17, 2018, 10:14:53 AM
Wow!  Great information.  The company did an excellent job with these tops.  They not only look good but they are fantastic spinners.....especially on my cell phone.  They are small enough to carry a couple in my pocket and always get people's attention.  Don has interesting advertisements on them from all over the US.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: peonza on November 18, 2018, 06:37:24 PM
Now I'm looking for information about The parisian Novelty and this are some of the spinning tops I find:


(https://thumb.ibb.co/eaFc0L/Congress-Shoe-Rubber-Co1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/eaFc0L)


(https://thumb.ibb.co/d3En0L/Esskay-Quality-Frankfurts1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d3En0L)

(https://thumb.ibb.co/muJfLL/Fibber-Mc-Gee-Molly3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/muJfLL)

(https://thumb.ibb.co/ekuFn0/red-top-radio-tubes2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ekuFn0)

(https://thumb.ibb.co/fckMS0/White-House-Coffee11.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fckMS0)


I think there are many spinning tops of this company which made different advertisements item for differents companies
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Jeremy McCreary on November 18, 2018, 07:06:00 PM
Wonderful tops!

Hard to believe that there was once a time when Congress and the White House had positive marketing value.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 19, 2018, 07:38:33 AM
Very good, peonza!  I recognize a few of those.  I have found these kinds of tops all over and in all kinds of places in Don's collection.  Little by little I have been getting them together in one container.  The unique advertisements on these really make me smile.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: peonza on November 19, 2018, 08:27:22 AM
Quote
In November 2008, the button division of the Parisian Novelty Company was acquired by the Matchless Group, also started in Chicago in 1885, and renamed Matchless Parisian Novelty, Inc.
The new company make buttons but not spinning tops. The web is
http://www.matchlessparisiannovelty.com/products.html
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on November 29, 2018, 08:18:00 PM
Too bad they do not make tops.  I would still like to talk to them. 

Little by little I am making progress and walking is a bit easier around the Hall of Fame.  I think I found all the dreidels I could and boxed them up for Larry D.  Also, I took two big bags of Toys-R-Us type plastic tops to a local juggling group.  John Buechele was there and demonstrated the diabolo.  I showed them a few top tricks and then they went crazy for the tops in the bags.  I need to go back there in the new year.  That is the Indian Riffle Elementary Juggling group but they have a big container of tops they have collected.  Paula Bennett is their leader and she has gone to a number of our top festivals in Miamisburg.  I thought I had an old thread about them but that may have been on the old board, as I cannot find anything about them on itopspin.com
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on January 09, 2019, 12:30:08 PM
I have one less Tornado Rex game.  My son and his family had so much fun playing it while they were here for Christmas that they begged to take it back to North Carolina to share with their friends.  Of course, I was happy to see it go to a good home along with a sample bag of odds and ends from the Don's collection.  He can use that at his church with the youth and others interested.

I visited a church in Farmersville recently (in connection with a funeral) and dropped off a bag of goodies for their pastor and their youth group.  A woman looked in the bag and said "Oh, these are the good tops!!!"

Our sister congregation here in town is now in their 200th year (we are still two years away from our 200th).  My plan is to get them a special package of spinning goodies with a note saying "for 200 years you have been tops."  Maybe we will make some friends from that?
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Jeremy McCreary on January 09, 2019, 01:07:02 PM
If spintoy outreach was Don's goal, he entrusted his collection to the right guy!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on January 09, 2019, 01:39:54 PM
Ha ha!!!  You are so kind, Jeremy McCreary.  I must admit, this collection has been quite an adventure and I feel like there are many many more stories out there.  I am tired of football and basketball news so this top news is a breath of fresh air.

I called Don to talk about money (yes, I continue to send money from all of you on to him) and asked about who was working with him to get all of these tops.  He said it was mostly him except for the Budworth collection in England, Ed Levin's tops and the couple of antique shows that came to Rochester every year.  Don stopped at a number of antique stores around the country and always had his eye out for potential spinners.  He did not know about Dan Lassanske's passing and that his top collection is up for sale with a video on this forum.  He said that he once visited Dan and saw his amazing collection and how well it was organized...…..it was almost depressing!!!

The old Toycrafter stomping grounds had some recent problems with leaking and water damage.  This has taken some time away from Don's work but he is optimistic about the future and looks forward to the next RIT Juggling Festival.  It looks like it is April 5-7.  I hope to make it and to catch up with many good friends.     
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Jeremy McCreary on January 09, 2019, 02:11:50 PM
I must admit, this collection has been quite an adventure and I feel like there are many many more stories out there.

Larry D's done some top demos for kids at local public libraries, and butterfingers recently did one in a similar public venue. Have you considered places like that?

I called Don to talk about money (yes, I continue to send money from all of you on to him)...

If Don's selling off some of his collection, I might be interested in a few pieces. How does this work?
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on April 25, 2019, 12:29:15 PM
I am reviving an old thread because I was recently in Buffalo to see Jim Neff and his Dingus Day friends, then I headed over to Rochester to get the extra box of tops that Don mentioned earlier.  I was later shocked to find the back of my van full of that one box........and many others!!!  I thought this whole process was about over but I am starting to wonder if it will go on for years?  Now, don't get me wrong.  I love getting more tops and opening the boxes of surprises and all the excitement that goes with it, but is Don holding out even more from us?

So, once again, I have plenty to work through but I did find one little Parisian Novelty Company top that caught my eye.  It advertises "Faemade Undies".  The full wording on the top says "don't stop looking for FAEMADE UNDIES your dealer has them."

Ummmmm....if you go looking for more information about Faemade Undies there is more than a slight possibility that you will see a lot of female figures that are scantily clad.

This is a tape measure but the colors and lettering are the same as what I have on their top:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-faemade-undies-palmyra-pa-428327834
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Jeremy McCreary on April 25, 2019, 01:06:45 PM
Ummmmm....if you go looking for more information about Faemade Undies there is more than a slight possibility that you will see a lot of female figures that are scantily clad.

Sure hope you're right! Wouldn't want those scantily clad picures of me in my Faemade undies showing up on the internet.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: butterfingers on April 25, 2019, 01:39:52 PM
then I headed over to Rochester to get the extra box of tops that Don mentioned earlier

I saw the picture of you and Don together and I'm surprised I didn't get a call requesting bail money. I'm glad you had a safe trip.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Larry D. on April 25, 2019, 03:06:21 PM
I was later shocked to find the back of my van full of that one box........and many others!!!  I thought this whole process was about over but I am starting to wonder if it will go on for years? 

Mike....   I DID TELL YOU THERE WAS MORE AND TO BRING A LARGER VEHICLE !
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on April 30, 2019, 07:21:08 AM
Yes, Larry D, I appreciate your heads up which is why I had a van instead of just a car.  Still, it was an even bigger load than I imagined and as we walked around we kept finding other possible things I could take back to Miamisburg.  Also, as we walked around, there are still quite a few things to get out of those rooms.  Don also mentioned that he had quite a few items in his dad's house next door!!! 

Today is my day off so I am going to work a bit out in the hall of fame.  I need to figure out how to get more shelving in there.

Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on May 08, 2019, 12:02:06 AM
I did not make as much progress as I had hoped last week but I sure made good headway this Tuesday (today-my day off).  I moved all the big skittle boards and pump tops into the main garage area.  That frees up a lot of walking room and I did just that, walking over two miles back and forth organizing the tops and moving items from the house into the hall of fame.  It is not perfect (it never will be) but it is much more functional and I can get to everything a lot easier.

My big goal is to have some tops handy and ready to give out at worlds.  Everyone has to take a big flip over top.  I also have a box full of old yo-yos.  Top spinners get first dibs on these!!!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on May 20, 2019, 10:17:46 PM
Got out a box yesterday that says "girogiro" on it.  It says it is from Italy and is a pen top.  Looks like I have eight or so of them.  The problem is, none of the pens work anymore.  The ink must be old or it simply dried up.  I will see if I can find replacement cartridges tomorrow.

I also have been having fun with Don's mazes where he challenges you to finger spin a top and then guide it through a maze.  He must have a half dozen different designs including a couple for golf, one for Easter and one that is shaped like a Christmas tree for that time of the year!!!  He is so clever.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on May 22, 2019, 12:47:52 PM
Don called me today to relate an interesting story.  He has a neighbor who had a car accident and is not getting out as much.  Yesterday was a good day for her and she ended up walking over to see Don.  She sheepishly said "I have had this for a while and I just recently found it in a drawer."  She handed him an envelope with his name on it.  It was a letter from me and it had been mistakenly sent to the wrong house.  In it was a check for $2000.00 from money gathered for some of his top collection!!! 

We both laughed and laughed because we had already cancelled the other check and got him the money.  We could not help but chuckle over everything we had gone through to get to this point.
 
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: ta0 on May 22, 2019, 10:45:02 PM
I think I got one of those pen tops in Miamisburg. Unfortunately, it's now in one of my storage boxes.

The check lost-in-the-mail story is funny . . .  only now!  ;D
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on August 09, 2020, 06:44:32 PM
Since the last addition to this thread, I have talked to Don on a number of occasions.  He has continued to work hard on downsizing everything on that 4th floor of the Fedder building.  The owners of the building have continued to update rooms and find new renters.  Some of Don's old rooms are now being used by crafters, woodworkers and even a business that bottles wine.  Don only occupies three rooms, all near each other on the southeast side of that floor.  I have been wanting to make another trip up there but due to COVID restrictions, it might not happen for quite a while.

As we approach the 22nd of August and another top fest in Miamisburg (the 21st) Don offered to send us some pegs and discs so we can assemble and color our own tops here in the 'Burg.  Thanks Don!!!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: ta0 on August 10, 2020, 01:20:22 PM
I wished I lived closer to Don (or better he to me, as upstate NY is too cold for my taste).
On the other hand, if I did, I probably wouldn't have any space left in my house!  ::)
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Jeremy McCreary on August 10, 2020, 02:04:03 PM
I wished I lived closer to Don (or better he to me, as upstate NY is too cold for my taste).
On the other hand, if I did, I probably wouldn't have any space left in my house!  ::)

Copy that!

For sheer gyro-creativity and practical engineering, I consider Don a Masaaki-class top-maker. And that's only from the Olney tops I know about.

Would love to see a complete photo-chronology of his tops. Or something along the lines of the Masaaki brothers' book (http://www.ta0.com/forum/index.php/topic,5774.0.html).
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on August 27, 2020, 01:57:17 PM
I do not remember if this was posted earlier or not but I ran across this and didn't want it to get away before it was out there.

Many who walked through Don's collection enjoyed a little phrase on a piece of paper that sat on a shelf.  It is a quote from A. A. Milne.  It said "One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries."
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Jeremy McCreary on August 27, 2020, 06:56:25 PM
Many who walked through Don's collection enjoyed a little phrase on a piece of paper that sat on a shelf.  It is a quote from A. A. Milne.  It said "One of the advantages of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries."

Boy, can I relate to that!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on March 19, 2021, 04:45:08 PM
I see I need to update this thread.  I just got my second vaccine and am in the waiting area.  I will come back to this later to share a trip I made to Rochester with Jim Neff.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: Jeremy McCreary on March 19, 2021, 05:03:03 PM
I see I need to update this thread.  I just got my second vaccine and am in the waiting area.  I will come back to this later to share a trip I made to Rochester with Jim Neff.

Congrats!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on April 02, 2021, 10:59:27 PM
Well, I see that I did report some of my late November trip to the state of New York.  It was when I stayed at Jim Neff’s home.  What a joy that was!!!  We traveled over to Don Olney’s place where he said he had three boxes for me.  It turns out that I did not hear him correctly.  He had three PILES of boxes and we barely got it all in the big van I rented for the trip.  The Don Olney collection continues to surprise me over and over.  In a recent phone conversation with Don he told me how he found another box with m name on it and he has started another pile for me!!!  I am not sure how I can sneak away for another trip up there, but I will surely be thinking of different ways to pull it off.

Don reports that he is finally into one room with his computer and laser cutter which is connected to another small room they call the paint room.  That is an amazing accomplishment.  He also reports that the Memorial Museum in Rochester has called him about selling some of his items!  That also sounds pretty exciting to me.  We will see how that turns out.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on March 14, 2024, 11:01:22 PM
This is a collection that keeps on giving.  A little over five years from the last post on this thread, I got talking to Don about Easter and tops.  “I made an Easter top.  I was quite proud of it.”  He described it and I went looking for one.  He said he made a lot of them but I have only uncovered two.  “That’s it” he said after I sent him a picture.  It has an egg shape with a stem and an Easter bunny printed on the side.  The tip is a small protrusion coming off the bottom of the wooden egg.  “It had a nice spin even though it did not look like it would do very well.  And it would stop gently on its side when it was done.”
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: ta0 on March 15, 2024, 01:02:56 AM
Thanks for sharing the story, Mike. But we want to see the photo of that Easter top!
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: the Earl of Whirl on March 15, 2024, 10:37:04 PM
I got interrupted and was not able to finish the story.  He said he did some business with Pier 1 and they liked his Christmas tops.  They asked if he had any Easter tops and that got him going on this new design.  Did you make a lot of them, I asked……a thousand?  Way more than that, he said.  Two thousand.  Way more.  Five thousand?  Don said he had them in containers that held a gross each and they had a thousand stores.  Ten thousand I exclaimed and he just chuckled.  He still has some serious stories to tell.


(https://i.ibb.co/bd5J2VX/IMG-6600.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bd5J2VX)
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: ta0 on March 16, 2024, 12:15:10 PM
I don't recall seeing those wooden egg tops before. But this reminds me a true egg top from Don:

(https://i.ibb.co/yXpx7tm/image.png) (https://ibb.co/1LM4j1Y)

Spinning:

(https://i.ibb.co/ZzSdY5W/image.png) (https://ibb.co/qYCBWKk)

There is a little hole on the bottom (tip) from where the egg was emptied. I'm not sure why he didn't do it on the side covered by the stem.

This is a pretty fragile top, but at least it's not meant to be thrown. Yesterday I freestyled for the first time with a terracota top I got from Rocco  >:D

EDIT: I just checked with a flashlight and there is a bigger hole in the egg shell covered by the stem. I guess the little hole at the tip was made to let air in while draining from the other one.
Title: Re: Don Olney's Top Collection
Post by: ortwin on March 16, 2024, 04:10:04 PM
...
EDIT: I just checked with a flashlight and there is a bigger hole in the egg shell covered by the stem. I guess the little hole at the tip was made to let air in while draining from the other one.
Yes, something like that I had planned to write as response, but your "EDIT" was faster. That is the way I learned to empty eggs needed for Easter decoration: Make a hole on either side, blow (hard) into one so everything inside exits the other hole. I remember it was quite hard to to blow with sufficient pressure when I did it last time a few years ago. I did not have a suitable syringe at hand, otherwise one hole would suffice and your head does not get that red.