Mr Punchs Shop : Tops
| | | 1900s Tin Marklin Flower and Butterfly Spinning Tops(Reference #03-5-12mt)
This selection comprises eight different printed tinplate spinning tops and a spinning rod, all of which were made by the German firm of Marklin in the early years of the 20th century. The tops comprise a butterfly, two flowers, a rotor, and four ringed circular tops, one of which has been badly over-painted. The tops range in diameter from 2" to 3", the rod measures 7.75" long. The circular tops are in less good condition than the others; they have clearly been played with and suffer from some print loss, as does the spinning rod. The other four tops are in very acceptable condition for their age. The tops are attractively presented in a replacement box which bears two copies of an original Marklin box top label. (#) US$158.00
Price: £79.00 |  | |
|  | Pre-war English Wooden Spinning Tops (3)(Reference #8-9-36)
This selection comprises three English wooden spinning tops, all of which date from the pre-war period. They are designed for use with a length of string. All three tops measure 1.5" in diameter. They are in very acceptable condition for their age, just suffering from some scuffing and marking. (WR) US$20.00
Price: £10.00 | |
| Pre-war English Wooden Spinning Tops (3)(Reference #8-9-35)
This selection comprises three English wooden spinning tops, all of which date from the pre-war period. The two brown ones are designed for use either with a whip or a length of string; the red one is used with string. The brown tops measure 1.75" and 1" in diameter respectively; the red one is 1.5" in diameter. They are in very acceptable condition for their age, just suffering from some scuffing and marking. (WR) US$20.00
Price: £10.00 |  | |
|  | Pre-war English Wooden Spinning Tops (2)(Reference #01-3-03pt)
This selection comprises two English wooden spinning tops, both of which date from the pre-war period. They are designed for use with a length of string. They both measure 1.75" in diameter and are in very acceptable condition for their age, just suffering from some scuffing and marking. (WR) US$20.00
Price: £10.00 | |
| 1960s Boxed Japanese Alps Tinplate Hy-Flyer Top Gun(Reference #05-9-23)
Made by Alps of Japan in the 1960s, this boxed Wonder Hy-Flyer consists of a brightly lithographed tinplate gun (3.5" long), and two plastic tops that the gun launches. You screw the tops on to the plastic end section of the gun, turn the section round a few times to engage the motor, point the gun upwards, press the trigger, and the top launches into the air. This toy is complete, in full working order, and very good condition. There is just very minor scuffing to the lithography of the gun. The box is complete and intact, and only suffers from minor tearing and scuffing. It features some delightful graphics of children playing with the toy, as well as pictorial instructions. (#) US$50.00
Price: £25.00 |  | |
|  | 1920s Anglo-Japanese Commemorative Tin Spinning Toy(Reference #7-5-108)
This cheaply made tinplate spinning toy commemorates the Anglo-Japanese alliance (1902 to 1923) that safeguarded the two countries' respective interests in China and Korea from the territorial ambitions of Russia. The toy is made of lithographed tinplate in the shape of four circles and is decorated with red and yellow stripes, as well as the Union Jack and the Japanese military flag for both the army and navy. It is simply marked MADE IN JAPAN and is threaded onto a piece of string. The lithography is in remarkably fine condition for a toy of this age, only suffering from very minor print loss. (#) US$50.00
Price: £25.00 | |
| 1937 UK Tri-ang Wooden Propeller Aerial Top(Reference #6-1-110a)
This intriguing wooden toy was made by Tri-ang, and offered in their 1937/38 catalogue, numbered 2973. It is in effect an aerial top, which stands 5" tall, with a propeller width of 4.5". Although it has long since lost its original string, there is no reason to suppose that it would not work with new string. It is in very good condition for its age, and there is no damage to report to either piece. The catalogue description states: 'by pulling string, propeller can be made to give exceptional flights. Easily re-wound after flight'. If Tri-ang or tops are your passion, then have a look at this. (J) US$20.00
Price: £10.00 |  | |
|  | 1970s Japanese Tin Space Top with Launcher(Reference #02-7-12)
Made by SKK of Japan in the 1970s, this tinplate space-themed spinning top measures 3.5" in diameter. It still has its original plastic launcher and is in working order, although it no longer hums as it would once have done. When it is spinning, the brightly lithographed colours merge, producing an extremely pleasing effect. The lithography illustrates various space vehicles of the period, making this top very much a toy of its time. It suffers from some wear to the centre, where the plunger has rubbed against the surface over the years, as well as some print loss and wear to the outer edge and bottom where it has made contact with the ground as it bounces and spins around. However, it is still an attractive item that would grace either a collection of tops or of space memorabilia. (75 #) US$30.00
Price: £15.00 | |
| 1960s Wooden Top and Whip Set(Reference #01-3-03g)
Made in England in the 1960s as part of the craft toys movement, this set comprises a machine-turned wooden cone-shaped top (2.5" tall) with a metal spinning tip, and a wooden whip (11.5" long) with leather thong. Both the top and the whip are in very good condition and do not appear to have been played with very often. This is a beautifully crafted top set that would grace any collection of spinning tops. (WR) US$20.00
Price: £10.00 |  | |
|  | 1970s UK Plastic Spinning Top with Card(Reference #01-3-03f)
Made by Acamas Toys of England in the 1970s, this plastic spinning top (1.75" in diameter; 2.5" tall) is still complete with its original backing card and cord. The instructions, detailed on the back of the card, explain how the 'Urlup' (as the top is called) can be wound and flicked from the hand to perform tricks. There are no defects to report to the top; the backing card suffers from fading and paper loss where the plastic coating that would originally have sealed the top to the card has been torn away. This is an interesting piece of 1970s top memorabilia that would enhance any collection of such items. (50 #) US$20.00
Price: £10.00 | |
| 1970s German Tin Litho Spinning/Humming Top(Reference #01-11-5)
Made by Karl Rohrseitz in Zirndorf in West Germany in the 1970s, this tinplate spinning top is in working order and measures nearly 6.5" high. It is in good condition, apart from some wear and slight rust stains to the plain unprinted tin areas of the base and top. The handle and stand are made of yellow plastic. The top depicts countryside scenes of dressed rabbits indulging in various pursuits including hiking and high jumping. There is also a delightful scene of a class of rabbit children being taught carrot and lettuce recognition. One side of the top exhibits a very slight sign of denting, but this affects neither its appearance nor its operation. (WR) US$24.00
Price: £12.00 |  | |
|  | 1930s UK Boxed Tri-ang Metal Gyro-Cycle Top(Reference #01-2-17)
Made by Tri-ang (Lines Brothers) in England in the 1930s, this superb and very clever toy is made of celluloid, pressed steel, and printed tinplate. It measures nearly 8" long and comprises a celluloid cyclist astride a pressed steel bicycle with printed tin wheels. These elements are all in good condition, apart from some marking through wear to the wheel rims. This toy works on the same principle as a gyroscope such that, when a string is wound round the mechanism on the side of the front wheel and pulled sharply, the cyclist will pedal furiously forward until it runs out of momentum and topples over. In a similar fashion to the Lehmann cycles, this toy works very well indeed and this example is fully functioning. The box is worn, torn and dirty, mostly to and around the edges. The label is colourful and complete and, together with the Tri-ang trademark, bears the legend 'The Tri-ang Gyro-Cycle - invention of a famous aeroplane designer'. (575 #) US$360.00
Price: £180.00 | |
| 1980s Plastic Cereal Promotional Stacking Top(Reference #01-3-03c)
Issued in English cereal packets as a promotional item in the 1980s, this is an unusual set of three stacking tops. Made of plastic, the brightly coloured tops measure 1.5" in diameter. They can be spun either separately or stacked one on top of the other. The set is in very good condition and full working order. Hardly likely to have survived in large numbers, this is an item that would enhance any serious collection of toy tops. (25 #) US$20.00
Price: £10.00 |  | |
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