Spinning top
Joseph, Myers and Co
Category
Toys
Date
circa 1858
Materials
Wood and paper
Measurements
Top - 92 mm (height); 100 mm (diameter), Box - 153 mm (length); 142 mm (width); 42 mm (height), Each disc (min) - 105 mm (diameter), Each disc (max) - 127 mm (diameter), Each envelope (min) - 96 mm (width); 92 mm (height), Each envelope (max) - 135 mm (width); 135 mm (height), Instructions - 139 mm (width); 216 mm (height)
Place of origin
Leadenhall Street, 144
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 663952
Summary
A child's wooden spinning top (circa 1858) with a turned wooden handle which has a hole in its end and another hole pierced through its diameter. The handle has a screw thread at one end. Between this and the turned point (which screws onto the handle) is a circular disc. The disc is made of a different wood to the handle and point. The original wooden box covered in dark green fabric has a hinged lid which fastens with a metal hook and eye. In the centre of the lid is maroon label with a stamped illustration of a spinning top in gold coloured ink, above which is stamped 'The Kaleidoscope Top'. A label stuck to the inside of the box lid reads 'Patented I.G.'. Inside the box are a printed set of instructions entitled 'Directions for Using The Kaleidoscope Top for Children, patented April 1858. Price, 10s. 6d'. The instructions list the remaining contents of the box, which are envelopes containing different discs which fit onto the top, as follows: A paper envelope with a printed label reading 'No.5 Three Heart-shaped Pattern'. There are in fact five heart shapes (one black, one red, one blue, one yellow and one white). Another envelope has a printed label reading 'No. 3 One Disc, To Produce Circular Bands of Grey. See Directions'. There is a corresponding black and white disc. Another envelope has a printed label reading 'No. 2 Six Black Discs, with Perforated Patterns and One Map-like Disc. See Directions'. There are six corresponding black discs with perforated patterns, each with a length of blue cord attached, and one brightly coloured map-like disc. Another envelope has a printed label reading 'No. 1 Four Circular Cars, Yellow, Red, Blue and Green. See Directions'. There are four corresponding discs in these colours, (the red, blue and yellow are interlocked together). There is another envelope with a printed label reading 'No. 4 Four Discs to be Used by Gas or Candle-light. See Directions'. It is not clear whether the remaining discs correspond with this envelope, they are - one blue; one black; one black and white patterned disc; one red, blue, yellow, green and white patterned disc; one blue and white patterned disc and one green and black patterned disc. Total number of items is 31.
Marks and inscriptions
Back of the red disc: '23 Au.74/ The colour of this disk/ - more nearly than the colour of any other/ object that I can find - resembles the red/ of the solar spectrum, as given in Schellin's/ spectrum Analysis. It closely resembles also/ the red of the illustrations of Chevreul on Colours./ 23 Aug.74'
Makers and roles
Joseph, Myers and Co, maker