A battery to fit the holder. We will only need about a yard of wire, so the Radio Shack package will make a dozen motors or more. We want bare wire of 18 or 20 gauge, so we will be removing the plastic insulation from the wires listed above. To make the armature nice and round, we wind it on a cylindrical coil form, such as a ball point pen or a small AAA battery. The diameter is not critical, but should be related to the wire size.
Thin wire requires a small form, thick wire requires a larger form.
Leaving a couple of inches of wire free at one end, wind 25 or 30 turns arounf the coil form. Don't try to be neat, a little randomness will help the bundle keep its shape better. The important thing is to keep the coil together, and to have the two ends of the wire anchored well, and aligned in a straight line, so they form a good axle. It is a secret trick because it is a small and subtle thing, and is very hard to see when the motor is running. Even people who know a lot about motors may be puzzled until they examine it closely and find the secret.