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Author Topic: A big welcome to our newest member  (Read 10663 times)

SpinQueen

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A big welcome to our newest member
« on: October 04, 2009, 05:43:58 PM »

Hello Byron,

It was great chatting w/you just now.  I'm sure I can speak for the lot of us by saying that we are very happy to have you here on the forum with us.  I personally would love to hear any stories that you might be willing to share about your many experiences growing up in a spin-top family.  Boy oh boy, this forum just keeps getting better!
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mtntop

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #1 on: October 04, 2009, 07:57:43 PM »

  Yes indeed great so see you in the neighborhood Bryon ;D . I  was just spinning the M5 I got from you a few years back what a great top!! I am really looking foreward to your input in this forum.
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Spinning In Mind

the Earl of Whirl

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #2 on: October 04, 2009, 10:17:34 PM »

Welcome, Byron.  Great to have someone here who knows a lot about tops and also something about Jim Schreiber!
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Happiness runs in a circular motion!!!

Byron Watts

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #3 on: October 04, 2009, 10:57:34 PM »

I must say that Catherine's video really inspired me yesterday to think more about spinning tops.  I've found myself quite distracted during the last year or so and hope to get things organized a bit better so I can spend more time working on "important" things  8)

Thanks for calling Catherine!

Hope I can contribute something useful.

Byron
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Spinning Tops

ta0

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2009, 12:01:53 AM »

Welcome Byron!

It is great to have you here!

If I am not mistaken, your father Walter was the craftsman behind all those very nice tops, including some giant ones. I have a 5.5" tall one that I got from John Hornbeck that plays very sweet. Do you also make tops as your father or only inherited the player side?

Jorge
« Last Edit: October 05, 2009, 12:06:54 AM by ta0 »
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silvertop

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2009, 09:45:51 AM »

Hey Byron!
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Don Olney
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agentsac

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2009, 12:31:11 PM »

nice to meet you byron and welcome to the boards. that is a very nice action shot of you with that big top. look at the concentration... :)
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physboy2357

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2009, 12:34:24 PM »

Welcome to the board!!  Glad to see we're attracting more people :)
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ta0

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #8 on: October 06, 2009, 11:16:41 PM »

Welcome Walter to the forum, too! We are honored!

With Walter and Byron here we can ask what everybody wants to know: are there Watts tops for sale?  ;)
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Watts' Tops

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #9 on: October 09, 2009, 09:08:50 PM »

 Good to be welcomed.  Thanks.  Watts' Tops are for sale.  I do have 4, 5, and a couple of 6 inch ready to go.
 I am so delighted that top spinning has not been totally lost.  Help the next generation learn.  They need something besides cell phones and computer games.
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Watts' Tops
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Neff

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #10 on: October 09, 2009, 10:02:22 PM »

Watts' Tops are for sale.  I do have 4, 5, and a couple of 6 inch ready to go.
Wooot!!!
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ta0

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #11 on: October 10, 2009, 12:31:10 AM »

I am sure many will be happy to hear that.

How do you measure them? Mine is 5.3" tall and 4.2" wide. It is #69. When did you start numbering them and how many are out there?
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Watts' Tops

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #12 on: October 10, 2009, 09:46:04 PM »

Good to hear from you.  #69 is way back there.  I did start # at about 20 and am up to about 230 (I would have to check)  Your 4.2 is in fact a 4 incher that didn't quite get turned enough.  Each top is turned without a pattern and turns out a bit different.  The later #'s are generally a bit better as I have perfected my methods a bit over the years.
  By the way.  The my first 4 inch tops were made for the 1993 Fargo Juggling Convention on a fluke.  I thought that if I enjoyed them, maybe someone else would too.  The went quite well, no #'s, alumni tips, and no thought of balance at that time.  (I did at a later time sign one of them and gave it #9 so one of the first is #ed.)  I still have one of the originals in my display case.  Kind of glad to have it.  I do have a bass wood block in my lathe right now that will turn into a 6 inch top.  Mostly for enjoyment of making them.  I like bass wood due to consistence of grain and weight. 
  It would be fun to hear from others with their #'s  as well.
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Spinningray

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #13 on: October 10, 2009, 10:27:26 PM »

I have #135 which is a 5 incher. I got it in 1998. I learned to regenerate with it. It is also the reason I started making big tops. Thanks Walter.
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the Earl of Whirl

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Re: A big welcome to our newest member
« Reply #14 on: October 10, 2009, 11:04:48 PM »

I was at the Fargo convention back in 1993.  There was some concern about having it since there was so much flooding that year.  I vaguely seeing some tops but it is all so blurry in my memory.  One thing I do remember very vividly is a man named Stan.  He came up to me out of the blue and handed me a video of a top presentation he did.  On the tape I saw him do things like wire walker and merry-go-round and thought it was very amazing.  I knew I would never be able to do any of that.
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