Conqueror

By Scarlet Weber

Classics are considered classics for a reason, and tops are no exception. Tops have been around for thousands of years, going through waves of popularity throughout human history. In Thurber these could be purchased at the store or whittled by hand from wood. While traditional tops may not be as trendy, there are still popular variations of tops that exist today.

One popular modern variation of tops is known as Beyblades. While string was used for some tops, ripcords or special strings are used to launch the Beyblades in a ring. The rules tend to be simple, with points being awarded for knocking an opponent’s top out of the ring, stopping it from spinning, or causing it to disassemble. This is a version of the popular top game “Conqueror.” In this game, two players would spin their tops and knock them into each other. The winner was the one who either knocked the other top out of the ring or split the opposing top. Marks and gouges on the top indicated that it was a long-time winner.

There were many ways to customize the top for better performance. A screw could be used on the bottom to make the point longer and sharper. This would help to do more damage to the opposing tops. Another trick was to replace the normal string with hamstrings. These were the strings that were used to hang up ham. When these strings were pulled, a top could go even faster.

While they may look a bit different now, tops are toys that have been loved by generations. Children in Thurber loved them quite a bit. Some would make the tops themselves, while others would buy them. The game “Conqueror” was especially popular. Some kids would even customize their tops to make them go faster or do more damage to an opponent’s top. The tops pictured above are ones that would have been similar to the ones kids would play with in Thurber. These classics are still a favorite today. So much so that these tops can be found in our gift shop!