Don Olney's Top Collection

[the Earl of Whirl]

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

[Jeremy McCreary]

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.

[butterfingers]

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.

[Larry D.]

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 !

[the Earl of Whirl]

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.

[the Earl of Whirl]

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!!!

[the Earl of Whirl]

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.

[the Earl of Whirl]

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.

[ta0]

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! 

[the Earl of Whirl]

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!!!

[ta0]

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! 

[Jeremy McCreary]

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.

[the Earl of Whirl]

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."

[Jeremy McCreary]

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!

[the Earl of Whirl]

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.