An Improved Toy.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Toy.
I JOSEPH ANDREWS, of 34 James Street, Saint Mary's, Southampton, in the
County of Hampshire, Carpenter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to toys of the description known as spinning tops.
According to my invention I attach to the head of such a top an elastic string of
india-rubber or other suitable material of a convenient length, and the top is caused
to spin in the following manner.
The extreme end of the string is held firmly in one hand and the top is then
turned from left to right-or right to left as preferred-by the other hand thereby
twisting the string to any desired extent. If the top is then released and suspended
by the string so that the toe or peg rests on a table, or elsewhere, it will rotate at
considerable speed-spinning on its toe-by reason of the string untwisting itself,
meanwhile the string is being twisted to a certain extent in the opposite direction
to that in which it was first twisted by hand, and the string continues to twist
and untwist, and the top consequently to spin round backwards and forwards in
opposite directions until there are no further turns or twists in the string.
Should the toe of top not rest upon any object when suspended by the string-
after the latter has been twisted by hand-the top will spin in the air, and also at
the same time have a vertical up and down motion due to the lengthening and
shortening of the string as it is twisted and untwisted.
I may make my tops of any desired shape, and of any suitable material, and with,
or without a metal toe or peg as preferred, the latter may be inserted in the top by
screwing, driving, or otherwise, or sometimes a spindle may be driven quite through
the vertical centre of top, one end of same forming the toe, and to the other end I
may attach the string by tying or by first inserting a ring through the head of
spindle to which the string will be secured."
I may sometimes fit two or more strings to a top inter-twining same when turning
the top for the purpose of spinning it, I thereby secure a similar result however as
when fitting only one string.
Dated this 29th day of October 1891
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Toy.
I JOSEPH ANDREWS, of 34 James Street, Saint Mary's, Southampton, in the
County of Hampshire, Carpenter, do hereby declare the nature of this inventiou
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to that kind of toy known as a spinning top.
The accompanying drawing serves to illustrate one form or modification of my
invention,
Fig. 1, being an outside elevation of my improved toy in the spinning position.
Fig. 2, a plan on top of Fig. 1.
According to my invention I suitably attach to the head 6 of such a top A. an
elastic string c of india-rubber or other suitable material of any convenient length

page_text: and approved cross section-the latter being preferably rectangular-and the top
is caused to spin in the following manner.
The end d, of the string-or a cross bar d', or ring to which the end of string
may be attached is held firmly in one hand and the top is then turned from left to
right, or right to left as preferred by the other hand whereby the string c, is
twisted to any desired extent, if the top is then released from the one hand and
suspended by the string c, from the other hand so that its toe or peg e, rests on a
table, or on the ground, or elsewhere, it will rotate at considerable speed-spinning
on its toe-by reason of the string untwisting itself, meanwhile the string is being
twisted to a certain extent in the opposite direction to that in which it was first
twisted by hand, and the string continues to twist, and untwist and the top conse-
quently to spin round backwards and forwards in opposite directions until there are
no further turns or twists in the string.
Should the toe e, of top not rest upon any object when suspended by the string-
after the latter has been twisted by hand-the top will spin in the air and also at
the same time have a vertical up and down motion due to the lengthening and
shortening of the string c, as it is twisted and untwisted.
I may make my improved toys of any desired shape and of any suitable material
and with, or without a metal toe or peg e, as preferred, the latter may be inserted
in the top by screwing, driving, or otherwise, or sometimes a spindle may be
driven quite through the vertical centre of top, one end of same forming the toe e,
and to the other end I may attach the string by tying, or I may insert an oval
ring through the head of spindle to which the string c, will be secured.
may sometimes fit two or more strings to a top intertwining same when
turning the top for the purpose of spinuing it, I thereby secure a similar result
however as when fitting only one string.
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 :-
1st. The improved spinning toy or top consisting of the parts constructed and
arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
2nd. The attachment of a string to a toy-as hereinbefore described or similar
thereto for the purpose of causing it to be spun in manner substantially as herein-
before set forth.
3rd. The spinning of a toy on the ground or elsewhere, or in the air by means of
first twisting a string attached to same and then suspending it by the string in
manner substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 18th day of November 1891
HERBERT P. BLAKE, M.I.N.A.,
70, High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.