Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 88.djvu/783

 Popular Science Monthly

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spinning. The cord is wound around the shaft, and after being quickly withdrawn, the nail should also be lifted out. The music is made by short tubes in the sides, placed at right angles to the diameter of the cone. Tiny reeds attached to their inner ends are vibrated when the top is spun.

A game in which tops are pitted against each other for speed, requires the use of a top having a depression in its upper surface for a fan. Fig. 7. The air-cur- rents created by rotating the top revolve the fan. Numerals on the rim of the cavity indicate the movement of the fan.

For those who like to solve puzzles, the art of spinning a top must also be acquired if they wish to solve the puzzle-top. Fig. 8. A central, circular tube constitutes the body of the top. From it project radially four tubular arms. Four balls are free to move in these arms but they must pass through the central part. The trick is to spin the top with a ball in each arm.

The chameleon top. Fig. 9, has a semi- circular depression in its upper face in which are held, by means of a screen, several cubes having different colors on their surfaces. Rapid rotation of the top forces the cubes outward and diverse color combinations are presented.

A "flying" top, Fig. 10, has two propeller blades pivoted on its sides. When the top is not being spun, two coiled springs hold the blades inside the body, but the centrifugal force exerted in rotation forces them out through the lateral slots. The top literally rises from the table, the degree of upward movement depending upon the force expended in setting the toy in motion.

A very novel effect is obtained with a top having an auxiliary wheel. Fig. 11. The body is in the form of a globe very much flattened on the upper and lower sides. The auxiliary wheel is simply a disk painted with the primary colors, and having a central pin. When the top is in motion, the wheel is laid on the spinning-surface, its edge touching the top and its axis pointing inward toward the spinning-point. It will then rotate with the top, producing a peculiar, fascinating effect.

��Fig. 6. A real musical top

�����Fig. 7. A speed-record- ing top with which con- tests are held

���p Fig. 8. Puz- zle-top diffi- cult to spin

�����Fig. 9. The chameleon top

����Fig. 10. This

top flies in

the air

��Fig. 11. The ^

wheel rotates J = == with the top

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