Hanging or Meanie

"Hanging" or "Mean" top. Wooden; approx globe 5.1cm diam. Painted. Upper surface has small T-shaped insert. To spin, a piece of cord about 40cm long is engaged at mid point upon the T and the top thereby suspended. The top is rotated, twisting the two segments of the cord. When the ends of the cord are gently separated by a horizontal movement, the suspension unwinds and can rewind by inertia of the suspended top. The action is akin to the familiar button-on-a-string. However, the top may be diengaged from the cord while rotating rapidly and will drop, spinning, to the ground. The title "mean" is explained by the common difficulty in using the top.