These are highly polished solid metal flip over tops. They have a chrome like finish and are excellently machined. Simply spin it as normal and watch it suddenly flip over and then continue to spin upside-down. Furthermore, if it is originally spun in the direction of an arrow painted upon its hemispherical portion, upon flipping, it spins opposite the direction of the arrow.
Flip over tops (often known as a The Tippe Top) were originally invented in 1950 by the Danish engineer Werner Østberg. His inspiration came from a visit to South America where he had seen local people playing with a small, round fruit. When they turned it by the stalk like an old-fashioned spinning top, it would spin for a second and then invert and spin on the stalk. However some credit should be given to Helene Sperl who in 1891 patented a Wendekreisel in Germany. However the patent ran out and it was never mass produced.
The tops are 29mm in diameter ( 1. 14 inches ) and about 36mm tall (1. 41 inches ).
