Introduction.

Cataloguing your collection can be a bit confusing, as there are many approaches that a collector can take. For example, by country, by method of spinning, by purpose (i.e. advertising) ethnic (i.e. primitive tops used by anthropological groups) or possibly by date.

Whatever approach you might task will be according to your interest and you collection.

The following is a brief approach to the topic. It concentrates on the approach that classifies the tops by the method of setting the top in motion. What then follows is a list of other categories of tops that you may use as sub categories of the setting in motion types or you may chose to use one of them as your main source of classification.

You are invited to write to either John (who has specialist cataloguing skills in another discipline) or myself for help and advice.
    John's Spinning Top Classification Scheme

I do have one problem and that is that I do not have tops to illustrate all the types I will talk about; so… if you can supply me with an image of a top to illustrate a particular category of tops I will be most grateful.

I would like to express special thanks to L-W Book Sales who have given me permission to use the images from their book "Tops Yo-Yo's and other Spinning Toys" 1995. This is a great little resource book that all top collectors should have.

The following is their web site

http://www.lwbooks.com/

And their address is

L-W Book Sales

PO Box 69

Gas City IN. 46933

The approach taken in this paper is that of outlining the most popular basic cataloguing method followed by a listing of different types of tops that might well form either sub categories under the methods of spinning or form a collection in their own right.

METHOD 1. BY METHOD OF SPINNING.

These comprise a variety of devices that, by winding, tension a spring and then connect to the top in such a manner as when the tension is released the momentum is imparted to the top and start it spinning.

 

These we can be divided into two types.

i) Firstly those that are part of a supported top. The top is supported by any of a variety of devices and the string is wound around the axis. The string is then pulled to start the top spinning and the support is then withdrawn.

ii) Secondly is the hand launched method. Here the top is wound about with string with the proximal end being held in the hand/ finger. The top is then thrown to the ground in a skillful manner, which starts the top spinning.
  examples of the Peg Top

 

This is also known as a "Plunger" or "Helix" top. A spiraled rod is pushed through a fixed ring that is attached to the top thus causing it to spin.

 

These are tops that are fixed to a form of base. A handle is turned thus revolving the top.

 

These are tops that usually have vanes sticking up from the whorl that when blown, catch the "wind" and start to spin.

 

These are the tops well known to us. We grip them, usually between finger and thumb and spin them with a flick, in a manner similar to how we "snap" our fingers.

There can be many sub categories of this type of top.



 
 

With these tops we hold the axis between our hands in a "fore and aft" manner, then we rub our hands together so that the axis spins the top.

 

These tops are set in motion by a number of methods, all of which involve winding the string of the whip around the top and then pulling it to commence the spinning of the top. The top is then kept spinning by whipping the top whilst it still has momentum.

 

These are usually a set of multiple tops that nest inside each other. They are laid on the ground and the foot is placed on them in such a manner as they can then be "snapped" between the foot and the ground, thus commencing the spinning motion which, if great enough. will bring them into the upright spinning position.

 

1. Advertising tops.

The tops were made with various advertising slogans and given away with the product or just given as an advertising give away. They were not only used by commercial firms but by politicians too.

 
2. Aerial Tops.

These are tops which, when spun, fly into the air. Often via an Archimedean rod or other type of launcher. Many people do not accept these as a category of spinning tops. I have included this type with a view to completeness and leave the reader to accept or reject the category.
3. Anti-gravitational tops.

These are amongst he modern tops. They use various effects of magnetic fields to allow the tops to either spin in mid air or say, in a horizontal position.

 
4. Buzzers.

These are spinning discs driven by twisted cords. There are spun through the tensioning of two cord through two holes of a device. (say a button with string passed through two of the opposite holes) When pulled they spin one way until the momentum runs out and then when pulled again the spin in the opposite direction. The discs used are many and varied, and a characteristic of most of them is the buzz that these spinners produce.

5. Celtic Tops (One way Tops)

These are elongated tops. Looking rather like a solid canoe. They persist in wanting only to spin in one direction no matter how hard you try to go against their will. There are direction how to make one of these in the bibliography.
6. Chronology of Tops

Tops by the date used. It would appear the Egyptian dates are the earliest.
7. Climbing tops or Restrained tops (Yo-yo’s and Diablo)

These are Yo-yo’s which spin and climb, and Diablo which spin on a string held in tension from the ends of two sticks held by the operator.
8. Colour tops.

These are tops that make a feature of there whorl decoration to produce different colour effect. Quite frequently used as a teaching device in physics.
9. Country of origin.

The country in which the were made or feature as a top used by the people of that country.
example of a top from India
 
10. Double tops or Multiple tops mounted in or on one another.

Double tops are two tops that are set in motion by pulling one string. They are supported tops. The multiple tops are those that, when spun separate into may tops.

11. Expanding tops.

When these are spun, some part of the top "climbs up the axis or moves in a lateral direction.
12. Figure like feature tops.

Tops that have human form. e.g. dancers, clowns, toy like people.

 
13. Gyroscopes.

There, whilst they are restrained tops are so well known as to require a separate treatment. They are tops that are confined to a frame. They are usually set in motion by a string and achieve high speeds. The "gyroscopic" motion allows them to be put in many positions in which they remain until the momentum is lost.

 
14. Hopping, dancing or curve drawing tops.

This group of tops are very varied. Through various devices they perform these different actions. The curve drawings tops are easily understood when you realize that the axis is usually a pen or other writing device.
15. Humming tops.

I have given this description to the old English humming top. Many other devices hum especially some of the archmedean or plunger type of tops. It seems to me that the old English tops is sufficiently unique to deserve this classification, where as other "humming" tops can very easily be classified in other groups.

 
16. Illuminating tops.

Mostly modern tops. They emit flashing lights. I do remember a top in my childhood that somehow rubbed on a flint and that produced sparks! I have never seen one since I have had my special interest in tops.
17. Magic Tops

These are tops that do not have an obvious shape when stationary. However when spun they take on a shape of say, a face or say a bottle. It is achieved by having one side of the shape in bent wire. When spun the one side is seen as a complete image.
18. Materials from which tops are made.

Tops are made from a wide variety of materials. I myself not only turn them in wood, but also in aluminum, brass and bone.
19. Mechanical tops.

These tops are fixed in a "box" or "frame" and a handle is turned, the "top" spins and various other things occur. I often think of them as a kind of mechanical musical box.

20. Musical tops

Tops, which, when spun produce musical sounds. The modern tops play actual tunes (Mine plays :"Jingle Bells")

 
21. Natural material tops with minimum of "manufacturing" processes.

These are tops which are produced without manufacturing in the truest sense of the word. I personally look upon them as the ethnic type of tops, but all societies use the natural resources to make tops even in modern times.
22. Noisy tops which emit blasts or explosions

I have no idea what these tops are. I have never seen any or had them explained to me.! Sorry.
23. Optical Tops.

These tops have whorl designs that produce optical illusions. Modern tops use the hologram device very effectively. Again, they are often used for teaching purposes in physics.
24. Teetotems or gambling tops.

These are tops that are faceted and marked with numbers, symbols or actions required when they come to rest on the facet. In Jewry they are a special "toy" for the time of "Chonakka" and they are called Dreidels.

 
25. Tippe Tops.

Tops, that when spun, gradually turn to spin in an upright position on its axis.

 
26. Top related Items.

Some of the above may well conform to this description. It is really a "catch-all" category.