Machines and engines

The first machine I ever owned was a humming top - a simple but fascinating toy: m.youtube.com/watch  Did you play with mechanical toys as a child? 

The first machine I ever owned was a humming top - a simple but fascinating toy: m.youtube.com/watch  Did you play with mechanical toys as a child? 

I have bought myself a vintage humming top. I chose one manufactured in West Germany by the Lbz company. This one works much better than the one I had as a child. The hum is particularly good as it is made up of several different notes. Perhaps that's why it was sometimes called a  'choral' top.

The top spins for a really long time and I absolutely love the clanking when pumping the handle. It's interesting that my dog, who is often scared of static objects like waster paper bins, likes touching the spinning top very gently with her nose. The two of us are having lots of fun! 

We had one,,, strange question for anyone, did anyone ever happen to touch the metal of a tin toy on their tingue?

I found out by accident it tingles,,, It buzzes the tongue,,,, lovely feeling,,, the best ever were  tiny cheap tin pressed frogs,, with a strip of blue metal underneath,, you pressed down and slipped your finger off it’s back to get it to leap forwards and up...the rag and bone man would give them out in exchange for rags, if you had quality items you got a ceramic mug,,, if lots of clothing you got a gold fish,,, no one ever got a gold fish though,,,,many kids would pinch mums clothes to try and get a fish Lol. Often a clip around the ear ensued with mum running after him to get the things back,