Improvements in Spinning Tops.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spinning Tops.
I, RICHARD PILKINGTON, M.A., of 1 Ham Terrace, West Ham Lane, West
Ham, London, E., Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
1. By having small holes, at equal distances from each other in each circle,
drilled through the top plate, in concentric circles, the top becomes a syren, as well
as a colour top, from which, by blowing, through a narrow tube, on to the con-
centric circles, through which the holes are drilled, musical notes are obtained,
when the top is spinning.
2. From a cup or saucer shaped black disc, from which narrow short strips have
been cut out, from concentric circles, the most wonderful and novel spectral colour
effects are produced, when the top is spinning on its spindle, and not on its peg,
and this black disc is placed on the metal tube, which is slipped over the top peg
on to a disc painted in sections, in different colours, which coloured disc lies
directly on the top plate, when the top is revolving rapidly or fairly so, the black
cup or saucer shaped disc disappears, and, in its place, the appearance of a trans-
parent cup or saucer, formed by concentric bands of gorgeous colours, is seen,
which colours may be changed and blended at pleasure, by touching either the
black or the coloured disc.
The spinning top consists of a disc of metal or other material through the
centre of which is fixed a tubular axis with a peg. Around the axis the string is
wound and by unwinding this, when a spindle fastened into a handle, is inserted
in the axis, the top is made to revolve, on the point of the spindle, when the top
is held upwards, or on a plate or saucer, on its peg, when it is held downwards.
For syren or musical effects the disc is pierced with small holes, in circles
concentric with the centre of the disc.
Dated this 1st day of June 1800
RICHARD PILKINGTON, M.A.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spinning Tops.
1, RICHARD PILKINGTON, M.A., Clerk in Holy Orders, of 1 Ham Terrace
West Ham Lane, West Ham, London, E., do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
1. By having small holes, at equal distances from each other, increasing in
number by a fixed rule from the circle nearest the centre to that nearest the
circumference of the top plate, drilled in circles concentric with the centre of the
plate, the spinning top, previously a colour top only, is converted into a syren top
also, from which, by blowing through a suitable, narrow tube, or by gently pressing
a corner of an address or other card, on to the concentric circles, musical notes are
obtained, when the top is spinning.
2. From a cup or saucer shaped black disc, from which narrow short strips have
been cut out from concentric circles, the most wonderful and novel spectral colour
effects are produced when the top is spinning on its spindle, and this black disc is
supported on the little disc on a tube, which has been slipped over the top peg on
to a disc painted in sections in different colours, and which lies at a greater or less
distance from the black disc directly on the top plate. When the top is revolving

page_text: on the spindle the black cup or saucer shaped disc disappears, and in its place the
appearance of a transparent cup or saneer, formed by concentric bands of gorgeous
colours is seen, which colours may be changed or blended at pleasure, by touching
either the black or the coloured disc.
The spinning top consists of a disc of metal or other material, through the
centre of which is fixed a tubular axis containing a peg. Around this axis the
string is wound, and by unwinding this, when a spindle fastened into a handle, is
inserted in the axis, the top is made to revolve, when the top is held upwards, on
the point of the spindle, or, when it is held downwards, on a plate or saucer or
table, on its peg.
The accompanying drawings will serve to elucidate the foregoing descriptions.
Fig. 1 contains a side view of the spinning top consisting of the plate A,
pierced by the tubular axis B, in which is fixed the top peg D, which rests on
the point of the spindle E, which spindle is firmly fastened into the handle F.
The string G, by which the top is spun, either on the point of the spindle E or,
on a plate or table, on its peg D, is wound round the tubular axis B.
Fig. I represents the spindle E with its handle F.
Fig. I represents a top view of the plate A. with holes drilled in concentric
circles with the axis B, through it.
Fig. and Fig. VI represent respectively a cup shaped and a saucer shaped
black disc, from which narrow short strips have been cut out from concentric
circles.
Fig. I represents the tube L for holding the cup and saucer shaped black
dises, on its narrow disc K, when it has been slipped over the peg D, on to a
disc painted in sections, which lies directly on the top plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
I. The application of the syren to the plate of a spinning top, as shown in
Fig. III, by which the top is converted into a musical spinning top.
II. The cup and saucer shaped black discs, as described above, and illustrated
in Figs. V and VI, with the arrangement of the tube for holding them on its
disc K, Fig. IV, when this has been slipped over the peg D, on to the top plate A,
on which a suitable coloured disc has been placed.
Dated this 18th day of March 1891.
RICHARD PILKINGTON, M.A.