EDIT: Found the old thread about these tops and merged them.
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Around 1997 Dale Oliver invented the modern ball-bearing tip top. However, there were older ones and Dale almost flipped when I showed him one, years ago. I just got the two on the right:
On the bigger one the bearing spun very well when I received it (like on my original on the left). But the other one was completely frozen. I took that tip out, applied lubricant and a dangerous amount of pressure with pliers and it finally got unstuck. However, from time to time it get's sticky. I suspect that one of the balls has corrosion.
Note that these ball bearings are designed for axial stress, not radial. Some Strummol8 tops came with an optional axial ball-bearing at one time, but if did not prove to be advantageous compared to the regular radial ball bearing.
The bearings of the two new tops (on the right) have larger balls than the smaller top, but otherwise the tips are the same.
I have a 1939 ad for a Sally Walker made by Gropper that looks identical. I have seen another ad with no date or manufacturer's name that lists very similar tops, but prices are considerably cheaper, 75 cents a dozen instead of $1.60, so it might go back to the 20's after all.