Mystery Objects.

[horseshoes]

What are these please?

http://i50.tinypic.com/206k07d.jpg

[DTCwordfan]

They look like old yarn bobbins......

[baza]

you mump things with them?

[dotty.]

tops from whip and top

[Psybbo]

pestles?

[dotty.]

gawd i'm showing my age but i did have one when i was very very little and it had been my mum's
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/2452/

[ummmm]

They don't look the same, Dot.

[rockyracoon]

They look like light pullies to me.

[Graham-W]

Mushrooms for darning socks?
They actually look like the bails from the top of cricket wickets which have been cut in half.

[horseshoes]

Not tops I'm sure. No grooves on 2 of them. Not light pulls - no holes for string. DT I'm going to google some pics of yarn bobbins now.

[Mamyalynne]

What size are they?

[dotty.]

it's understandable to be confused but the original toys were primarily home made and therefore not uniform in size shape design or wood type, they were made from broken wooden mill bobbins
http://uk.images.sear...tb-v2&va=whip+and+top

[DTCwordfan]

Yes, what size are they. horseshoes?

[Mamyalynne]

dotty I agree they share a similarity but no proper grooves for the twine on 2.

[stewey]

There is a hole in the bottom of each one. They could be handles to fit file tangs.

[DTCwordfan]

dotty may be right, spinning tops made out of old yarn bobbins adapted (not the cotton ones, horseshoes or mill ones), a brass point added to the socket.

http://uk.images.sear...ih&.crumb=4fClqL92vG9

[horseshoes]

They're all around 2" long

[dotty.]

definately tops, i think mine had a brass point on the bottom too

[Mamyalynne]

Always thought they were larger than 2", well done dotty.

[horseshoes]

Well I never would have guessed Dotty! I live and learn. Thanks all:-)

[Graham-W]

I don't think they are tops.
As I recall, tops had a flat top, pointed bottom (possibly with metal tip) and a groove around the center to wind the string or leather lace round.