The other day we looked into a shop through a window. I noticed these tops. I believe they are called humming tops? I could not help myself, I had to take a picture of them. They reminded me so much of my childhood. Gee, did I love these tops as a kid! My humming top was probably one of my favourite toys. And I knew other kids who owned humming tops. Whenever I visited a friend with a humming top I would try out what kind of humming noise their top did make. This was so exciting!
My friend Eva, who was a bit younger than I was, had lots and lots of children’s picture books. I loved to have a look at all her books! Of course, I had a few picture books myself. However, I am sure Eva had many more than I had. So it was always a pleasure to go visiting her.
Eva had a large play-room all to herself, whereas I had to share my room with my little brother, who was about two when I was five or six. I was allowed to go across the road all by myself to visit Eva. I believe I had instructions to return home straight away if for some reason I could not stay at Eva’s. When I rang the bell at the door to their flat, it was usually the maid who opened the door.
My standard question was: “Guten Tag, can I play with Eva, please?” And then the maid would let me in and I’d join Eva in her room. Eva’s Mum usually came to Eva’s room to say hello and talk to us for a while. Over the years I did get to know their whole apartment. I still know where all their rooms were. But for playing we always stayed in Eva’s Kinderzimmer.
All this comes back to me just by looking at these humming tops! 🙂
I went visiting other kids too. For instance there was Cordula, who lived in the same building that we lived in. I think I knew Cordula already when I was only about three. Cordula had her own room too with lots of toys. Her Mum would open the door when I asked could I play with Cordula. (They did never have a maid.)
Other friends I visited in the neighbourhood were Siglinde, Gunhild and Rosmarie who had a younger sister called Gudrun. I knew all these friends before I started school. With all these friends and some boys as well we often played ball games and hide and seek and some singing games in our secluded street. This was a time when there were not many cars around. I cannot remember any cars ever going through our little street.
Tante Ilse and Onkel Addi owned a car since 1938, the year my brother Bodo was born. They rented a garage for their car some distance away. These days the street is full of parked cars. No children play in the street any more.
AuntyUta 
I remember reading in a Berlin newspaper recently that your street is one of the most beautiful streets in Berlin. The chestnut tree at the end of street is really a landmark.
We used to live in the orange building building for about ten month in 1957 with Baby Gaby.
That’s right, we moved in with Tante Ilse in Bozener Strasse number 17 a few months before Gaby was born in 1957. This goes back 57 years! Quite amazing! 🙂
In 1957 the building had not turned orange yet!
What lovely memories can be evoked by something very simple! I also loved humming tops but never had one of my own. Your friends had such pretty names, too – you don’t hear little German girls called by those names any more. Happy reminiscing!
Thanks, Cat. I always love your comments. Thinking of names, Gudrun comes to mind. Our best friends daughter was called Gudrun. She was born in 1957, the same as our daughter Gabriele (Gaby).
Those really are beautiful. I do actually remember seeing them as a kid, but I don’t think I ever had one.
I am thrilled, Linda, that toys like these are still being produced and sold. They look exactly the same as they looked some seventy years ago! 🙂
There is nostalgia for the past, I think. People perceive the past to be a sweeter and easier time. You know that is not really true, but let them think….
Well, Linda, I guess we cannot live in the past, can we? However I am happy when things that have been good or enjoyable in the past are being preserved. For instance NIVEA Creme is still being produced. It feels and smells to me the same as when my mum used it on me when I was a kid! 🙂
Humming tops bring back many enjoyable memories Auntyuta.
So simple and yet fun to play with, pity the younger generation cannot see the simplistic beauty and joy in such a lovely toy.
Regards
Emu aka Ian
It looks to me, Ian, that toys like this are available only in very specialised toy shops. So the majority misses out and goes for the more modern toys that are being promoted. Kids these days are raised with more sophisticated toys, including mobiles and computers! Our baby great grandson already can find a few things on a certain mobile, for instance photos. 🙂
Cheers
Auntyuta