Background information and photos for media use
Press release
One Present: Christmas Top Spins for 140th Year
As people all over the country consider the implications of scaling back their holiday shopping this year, they might be interested to learn about a little boy, born during the civil war, whose love for one simple present has lasted more than a century and is still being celebrated today.
full release text
Stories run
One gift, lasting tradition: A family with Morris roots keeps 140-year custom alive
Morris Sun Tribune
Morris, Minnesota
December 31, 2008
Article text
Christmas Top Spins for 140th Year
Lancaster Farming
The leading northeast and mid-Atlantic farm newspaper
December 27, 2008
PDF of newspaper page (1.25MB file)
Christmas tradition is the top: Linsley family first gave toy a spin in 1868
By Denise Alt
Red Wing Republican Eagle
Red Wing, Minnesota
December 26, 2008
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One Gift, 140 Years Later
Litchfield Independent-Review
Litchfield, Minnesota
December 25, 2008
Article on newspaper's site
140 Year Old Christmas Tradition Spins on in Time
By Terry Campbell
West Concord News-Enterprise
West Concord, Minnesota
December 24, 2008
Article text
One Present: Christmas Top spins for 140th Year
The Outpost Weekly Newspaper
Serving South Stevens and Northwest Spokane Counties (Washington)
December 24, 2008
Article on newspaper's site
Short Circuits
By Randy Silas
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Minneapolis, Minnesota
December 15, 2008
Article on newspaper's site
Holiday Spin: One small brass top carries the stories of many lifetimes for a Deer Park family
By Shawn Vestal
The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington
December 22, 2008
Article on newspaper's site
The 100-Year-Old-toy — A Brass Top
The Litchfield Independent Review
Litchfield, Minnesota
May 7, 1969
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Brass top, Made in 1868, Part of Family's Christmas
Oshkosh Daily Northwestern
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
December 24, 1964
Article text and caption
YouTube Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjMfD4bCvY8
Photos
James Linsley spinning the top, Christmas 1964
Photo courtesy The Oshkosh Daily Northwestern
523KB Greyscale JPEG image
