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Shavings everywhere as Tinkler Toys turns out spinning tops
A square blank goes on the lathe and comes off a spinning top, a skittle, a yo-yo or a rocket, painted in the colours on the order. These days it is the lathe room, through the door at the back of the Cosyford Woodshop.
An order comes in for a toy, on the phone or through the letterbox. A square block of wood goes on the lathe and starts to spin. Drag the chisel towards it: the further you push, the deeper it cuts. Follow the dotted line all along and the corners knock off first, with shavings curling away and piling up on the workshop floor.
Hold to sand it smooth, then pick a colour and touch the brush to the spinning wood for a perfect stripe. Arthur Tinkler, who has made toys here for longer than anyone can remember, is very particular about stripes.
The toy is parted off and tried out on the bench: tops spin, skittles get bowled over, yo-yos go up and down and rockets hop. Then it is boxed up and off it goes in the post.
