AAW 2002 Providence Symposium

The string is pulled and the internal tops drop out and spin

The top of the top is then released allowing it to flip over and spin on its top

Mr Hiroi begins to make his miniature set of tops

He begins by making a lidded box in the shape and color of an apple

The proper shades of color are achieved by blending multiple colors

The top and bottom are fitted and set aside

Because the shavings are huge compared to the tops, the bottom is used to hold them

Mr Hiroi begins working on the miniature "fruit" tops

He makes a watermelon, peach, pear, lemon, and orange top

His lathe spins either direction allowing him to scrape with the banake

Each piece is shaped, appropriately painted, waxed, ...

and then parted off

Now you understand why they are put into the container for safe keeping

The finished set 5 tops in the "apple" container ...

and photographed next to a dime to give you a feel for size

Mr Hiroi spins up one of his larger tops

He gets it revolving quite fast and then has it "walk across the room" on a string

He stretches a string taught from a nail in the table and the top travels downhill

Mr Hiroi can control the travel speed by controlling the height of the free end of the string

When it reaches the table, the top hops free of the string and continues to spin

Photos by Kurt Hertzog (6/02)