There Are Pandas, and Then There Are Pandas.
And this isn't either of them! The Pandas we're talking about here, are watches, not bears. And what got me thinking about them (again) was a link posted this morning by @cm.rook who pointed a few of us to the very attractive (and not terribly priced) Yema "Rallygraph" Panda which, in it's most traditional arrangement, looks like the one on the left, but can also be had in the version on the right: The model on the left is a true Panda, while the model on the right is called a reverse Panda. The reason for that distinction is clear--Panda bears, only come in the first arrangement. Now at this point, everyone should be thinking about the most well-know Panda, The Rolex Panda, which is actually a Daytona, and among Rolex Daytonas, the most famous of which is the Paul Newman Daytona, which was famous first, because it was Paul's, and second because it sold at auction for $17.8 million (US Dollars). The story of that auction is well-known so I'll only...
Nov 8, 2019
I joined the drop for the stainless with ceramic.
They will look nice together on the Spin Station that I am building with 75mm and 100mm concaves and a classic 1970's Breitling stop watch base built in.
(my top spins with no flutter and I expect the new one to do the same!)
Excellent Product.
Will Do!
My "trick" is this: I'm right hand dominant and I spin the top clockwise. At the same time, I launch with the top pressed to the surface of a concave lens. (Amazon sells a popular 75 mm lens and you will see that most buyers are using it for spinning tops).
Now, the practice part is to launch the clockwise spinning top at as high RPM as possible without any jumping, or pogo-ing, or bouncing - AND- to make the top follow a counter-clockwise path. What I have found is that the top will very quickly find it's "Center" and, in less than 60 seconds, it will appear to be perfectly still.
If you launch the clockwise spinning top in a clockwise trajectory, the bearing surface can gain (a very tiny amount of) traction - and prolong the time it takes to get to "Center" (Thus decreasing overall spin time).
The main thing that I find for 10 minute plus spins is this: Launch pressed to the surface and without any bouncing. It must stay in contact with the spin surface for maximum efficiency. I have seen some that can Drop Launch and have it stay put - but that can be hard on the bearing and spin surface, and I can imagine takes way more practice than I have put in.
In the meantime, here is my Mk1 Performance with machine finish (not polished) brass.
Eric
Here are the 2 lenses (100 mm and 75 mm) and the Breitling stopwatch that are going into the spin station. Not sure how long before I have it complete, but it could be summer time here in Boston before I have it finished!
I will also have the Lambda solid brass with ruby to compliment the Mk1 in Brass and SS.
Keep On Spinning!
Eric
My setup is far less magnificent, but I always keep it at hand. Typically not ten minutes of my workday goes by without my MK1 in motion. I also have a ForeverSpin tungsten top that I won in a Blue Box drop, but it's little more than a prestige piece — you can't squeeze more than a couple of minutes out of it.
I only ask because I want one. :)