Don Olney's Top Collection

[silvertop]

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.

[ta0]

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.

[Jeromy K.]

I would love a shot at throwing the big one. That is an amazing collection.

[Watts' Tops]

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

[the Earl of Whirl]

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.

[the Earl of Whirl]

I may not be in Miamisburg as I am typing this.

[JNeff]

Hmmmmm. Are you making another Rochester trip?

[Jeremy McCreary]

I may not be in Miamisburg as I am typing this.

Replying from an undisclosed location.

[the Earl of Whirl]

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?

[butterfingers]

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!

[Jeremy McCreary]

...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. 

[butterfingers]

...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. 

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

[the Earl of Whirl]

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.

[JNeff]

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.

[the Earl of Whirl]

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!