This is a simple toy similar to one i had when i was a kid. I couldn't find any for sale out there so I made a similar one. It's a spinning top with a slightly magnetized shaft that, when spinned, drags a snake-shaped piece of tin foil back and forth.
I used:
- a nail or rivet core;
- a 1ml syringe
- a cap from a bottle or flask;
- a small magnet (neocube spheres works fine);
- piece of tin to make the snakes.