Popular Science Monthly 



755 



Which Puzzle 



spinning. The cord is wound around 

 the shaft, and after being quickly 

 withdrawn, the nail should also be 

 lifted out. The music is made by short 

 tubes in the sides, placed at right angles 

 to the diameter of the cone. Tiny 

 reeds attached to their inner ends are 

 vibrated when the top is spun. 



A game in which tops are pitted against 

 each other for speed, requires the use of 

 a top having a depression in its upper 

 surface for a fan. Fig. 7. The air-cur- 

 rents created by rotating the top revolve 

 the fan. Numerals on the rim of the 

 cavity indicate the movement of the fan. 



For those who like to solve puzzles, 

 the art of spinning a top must also be 

 acquired if they wish to solve the 

 puzzle-top. Fig. 8. A central, circular 

 tube constitutes the body of the top. 

 From it project radially four tubular 

 arms. Four balls are free to move in 

 these arms but they must pass through 

 the central part. The trick is to spin 

 the top with a ball in each arm. 



The chameleon top. Fig. 9, has a semi- 

 circular depression in its upper face in 

 which are held, by means of a screen, 

 several cubes having different colors on 

 their surfaces. Rapid rotation of the 

 top forces the cubes outward and diverse 

 color combinations are presented. 



A "flying" top, Fig. 10, has two 

 propeller blades pivoted on its sides. 

 When the top is not being spun, two 

 coiled springs hold the blades inside the 

 body, but the centrifugal force exerted in 

 rotation forces them out through the 

 lateral slots. The top literally rises 

 from the table, the degree of upward 

 movement depending upon the force 

 expended in setting the toy in motion. 



A very novel effect is obtained with a 

 top having an auxiliary wheel. Fig. 11. 

 The body is in the form of a globe very 

 much flattened on the upper and lower 

 sides. The auxiliary wheel is simply a 

 disk painted with the primary colors, 

 and having a central pin. When the 

 top is in motion, the wheel is laid on the 

 spinning-surface, its edge touching the 

 top and its axis pointing inward toward 

 the spinning-point. It will then rotate 

 with the top, producing a peculiar, 

 fascinating effect. 



Fig. 6. A real 

 musical top 



Fig. 7. A speed-record- 

 ing top with which con- 

 tests are held 



p Fig. 8. Puz- 

 zle-top diffi- 

 cult to spin 



Fig. 9. The 

 chameleon top 



Fig. 10. This 



top flies in 



the air 



Fig. 11. The ^ 



wheel rotates J = == 

 with the top 



