A MAGNETIC TOP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 267, 10 November 1934, Page 4 (Supplement)

A MAGNETIC TOP.

Here is a way of "making a most interesting magnetic top. In the first place secure the lid of a tin canister which is about 2in or 2Jin in diameter. Next, a round cardboard box will be needed, on to which the lid will fit .closely. Now cut away the lower portion of the rounded box so that a piece of it, about ljin, remains. In the middle of the lid punch a small hole which is slightly more than Jin in diameter. The next thing is to make the actual top. Secure a smooth round disc of wood about lfin in diameter and thick. In the middle bore a hole and into this fit a short iron rod so that it will not move up and down or wobble about. This rod might be Jin in diameter, and one end should be sharpened to a fine point. If there is any difficulty in making the rod, any ironmonger would prepare one for you. Its exact length does not matter so long as this is not less than 2in. The next thing is to magnetise the rod. This can be done by passing a strong magnet again and again along the rod, always in one direction, or it could be magnetised strongly by anyone who deals in electric apparatus. When the rod has been magnetised it is passed through the disc of wood, leaving about gin projecting on the underside. A bottom must now be made for the box in which the top is to work. This should be of cardboard, and the original bottom of the box from which you have the upper part would do very well. Cut two rounds of rather thicker cardboard, slightly smaller than the bottom of the box. Fasten one of these rounds firmly with glue to the bottom of the box and then,

in the centre, place a small piece of tin about \\n square.. On the top glue the other piece of cardboard and punch a hole through the centre of the top disc, so that the tin is exposed. Give a second punch in such a way that a dent is made in the tin. It is in this dent that the pointed end of the top will rest. To complete the actual top there is only now needed a small piece of stiff card tubing about fin high ami with an opening which is about :}in in diameter. The top is now ready for putting together. Put the handle through the tubing. Then put the top inside the ( box with the upper part of the handle coming through the hole in the lid. Hold the box upside down with the top in it and then place the bottom of the box which you have made so that the hole over the tin comes just at the point of the iron rod. Holding the parts of the box together, tunr it the right way up and give the handle of the top a twist to see (that it revolves freely. If it does so it only remains to stick the bottom of the box into place witli strips of paper. The whole of the box may be. covered with some coloured paper to give it a neat appearance. In the working of the magnetic top some thin steel or iron wire in needed. This can be cut into short lengths and then twisted into various shapes such as spirals or serpentlike forms. The lengths should be 2in or a little more. Spin the top in the box and then put a shape against the whirling handle and the wire will behave in a most astonishing manner. In making the magnetic top it' should be borne in mind that the tin lid must be plain and not lettered, as sometimes htippenes with canisters.