The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-29
B0g@> Bere'S a D0VeT Cop

Mr., James II. Anthony, OF Providence,
R. l., after experimenting for thirty
years, has invented a top whose spinning
performances beat all previous records.
Owing to its scientific construction this
mechanical marvel will spin almost an
hour without stopping, in g. manner cal
culated to turn the small boy, with an
ordinary top, green with envy.
Mr.. Anthony has made Hfefad Of
tops and has constructed hundreds with
in the last thirty years.
This latest top is one of the finest steel
and must be spun on plate glass
Like all inventors, Mr.. Anthony is en-
thusiastic over his new achievement, and
in a recent interview he gave some in
teresting details concerning the remark
able top.
''The secret of the tops tireless action. 80
he said primarily its perfect balance It
does not lean hairs breadth to either
side, and is poised so equally that it can
be readily stood in a vertical position and
will remain erect for several seconds
"It Is oval In shape, with fat sur
face of the finest cast steel, which Is lit
tie more than half an inch above the
point. The circular surface IS three and
one-sixteenth inches in diameter, and Is
highly polished and without a flaw The
spinning point is, of course, In the ex-
act center, and on each side of it the
steel has been cut out, leaving a hollow
space about half an inch in diameter.
The base Of the top is on a perfect angle
with the point, thus allowing the con-
trivance to courtesy beautifully and
gracefully at will, without touching the
surface upon which 1t spins.
'An ordinary twirl with the fingers is
sufficient to spin the top ten or fifteen
minutes and it is constructed so per-
fectly that the slightest twist sets 1t
going. The best work Is done, though,
when it is wound up with twtne three or
four feet long.
''In order to make use of the spinning
line a conical-shaped cavity, in which
an iron stick winder Is inserted, is cut
In the center surface. This winding con-
trivance is built on such an angle that
the stick cannot slip.
When the twine has been wound the
top Is placed upon smooth, fiat surface
and held with one hand, while the cord
is quickly unwound with the other This
sets the top going on it's forty-five min
ute twirl, and when fairly started the
iron stick Winder is quickly removed with
Until recently, I have been spinning
| my tops on porcelain plates, but 1 have
discovered that they will revolve much
longer and with greater speed when spun
on heavy glass. It was on heavy plate
window glass, placed on level table,
that this new steel top broke the record
by beating the longest spin by ten min
utes.
Prof. Jacobus, hte wsll-known top in
| ventor, constructed a bronze top some
time ago which held the place as cham
p1on spinner by revolving steadily for
forty minutes. My new steel top out-spun
the champion by ten minutes
Il believe that better results can be
obtained by constructing the top of steel
instead of bronze, and 7 know that IT
spins much more quietly upon glass than
| upon porcelain"
Mr.. Anthony was connected with a tool
company for twenty-eight years, and has
had every opportunity to test the relia-
bllity of the different metals, and in his
experiments he has discovered that steel
far excels every material for the making
of tops
He has constructed hundreds of wood.
bronze, and also made various combine
tons and obtained good results from
some. One or two would spin for nearly
thirty minutes, which was considered fair
time, but his latest top puts all the 9TH
ers in the shade
Although the new top IS marvel and
a record breaker. 1t would not be likely
TO find ready sale it placed upon the mar