The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-11
TINS Tor SPINS Nearly Az HOUR.
4 Providence Man Thinks He Has the
m spinner.

The journal last Sunday contained an nc.
count Of a marvellous top, made by Prof Charles
Jacobus Of Springfield, which has a spinning
record II 49,, minutes Noduuht the Ingenious
device is n wonderful piece 81 mechanism. possess
ing a high degree Of balance power, but there is
reason Ia believe that right here in Providence
is u top that can beat the Springfield professor
all hollow
The local marvel is the handiwork If Mr..
James II Anthony, who resides on Glenham
street Mr Anthony was for twenty eight years
connected with the Providence Tool Company.
and until recently was superintendent for the
household sew ing Machine Company. lie has
been engaged for thirty years, during spare mo
mcnts, making tops that spin with the rapidity
and freedom from WEAKNESS chara cteristic Of
the goSsip'S wagCing tongue,
Altogether he made upward " one hundred
tops before turning out one which hc considered
perfect. The others would spin from two 10
thirty five minutes, hut the crackaiack top, the
record breaker, the champion top the top that puts
the Springfield professors in III" shade, keeps
a going, when pIoprly wound up, for IS'a min.
utes, This goes Prof Jacohus's marvel five
minutes better After Witnessing Mr.. Anthony s
invention perform, You become convinced that
lrrrNtlnl motion may not h" So very far away
after all
The secret 81 the tops tITeIrSS action II ptl
marlly It's perfect balance. II Is oval IN shape
with a Hat surface, which l. little more than half
an inch ahuve the point made II the finest cast
steel, and Is 3 rs inches IN diameter The spin,
ming point Is, II course. IN the exact centre. and
on either side u II The Steel has been cut out, lpay-
ing a hollow space about half an inch IN diameter
The base Of the top IL on a perfect angle with the
point, thus allowing the cun,rlyance Ia courtesy
al viii without touching, The point IL Of hard
ened steel.
IN ordinary twirl with the fingers is sufficient
a. SPIN the top ten ur fifteen minutes. But It's hes,
work Is done when th" affair Is wound with Irvine
tire" feet ~ So, and IN order 10 make Use II twine
n Cunlcal shaped cavity, IN which an iron stick
vlndrr Is inserted, is u feature ~ the centre sur
face. This cuntriyauu' Is built on such an angln
that the stick cannot slip. once the top il wound
and has started upon it's three qua rtar hour twirl
the Stlck,l, speedily removed
Mir anthony showed his wonderful top 10 the
Journal representative one evening last week
and demonstrated lis peculiar capabilities on n
plrcc oi thick window glass placed uprn a parlor
table. lie spoke highly of The top made by Prof
JaCphus, hut suggested one ~ two means by
which II might possibly b" improved The Prpyi
dcncr man thinks steel preferable to hronze, and
h" believes that better results may h. obtained by
demonstrating on hoaNy glass instead II a purci.
lain plate.
Nthough the champion spinning top is a cum
Gus and wonderful thing, 1t would not find ready
sale II placed on the market II spins too silently
10 please Young Amrrca, and II Is altogether
lo~ calm ami peaceful, Besides. " hat boy would
care To- watch u top twlrl iuT nearly an hour
II l. suggested thHl n match might IT, arranged
between the Providence top maker and The Spring
field professor