Michael,

That stand looks real nice.

Bill Sutter

Michael;
Looks good! I took a different approach with the six ball stands I made about a year ago. They were all for golf balls. The balls sat in cups in the position shown in the picture of a left over part:

http://www.jamesriser.com/Magic/GolfBallAndShell2463.jpg

The metal shells (like the one shown) were dimpled and powder coated white to match a golf ball. This "shell unit" was mounted in a turned cup on the stand (no pictures of the finished product will be shown to avoid rip offs). I wanted the stand to merely look like a series of cups to hold the golf balls.

Rather than using melted lead for a base weight, I often use a disc of steel that sets into a rebate turned into the base - then gets screwed in for security.

Anyway, nice job on your ball vase project. Now you have one!
Jim

Hi Jim,

That golf ball shell looks great! My favorite part... the dimple pattern is "tilted" and the ball appears randomly placed in the cup. Bravo!

I'm assuming you've seen this:

http://www.conradi-horster.de/

Follow the apparatus link to the ball stand. I had one of his watch pistols in my possession for a time. His work is remarkable for the period that it comes from.
Good idea on the steel disc for weight. I just happened to have a bunch of lead weights here with no good purpose in mind.

~michael

Michael;
Yes, I have seen the Conradi-Horster image. They made other models too. Mine is much more open than the cage type like yours and the Conradi model shown. The ones I made were more like the version Maurice Rooklyn used. Owen makes a similar design in much easier to work wood.

The dimples on the golf ball shells are a real pain to make. Did you know that all golf balls are not dimpled alike?

I used to collect old tire weights to melt down for mounting stone wheels for glass engraving/cutting. I understand your using them.
Jim

Michael;
Here are some ball stands more like the golf ball stands I made last year. I prefer the open look of this type of ball stand.

The Owen/Thayer wooden designs - http://www.owenmagic.com/New_Items/1817BC.jpg
The Viking version of the old Conradi design - http://www.vikingmagiccompany.com/?nd=large&key=784

The ones I made were a cross between the Rooklyn and old Conradi designs. Not every cup is gimmicked on such stands.

Jim

Jim,

Thanks for those links. I have seen the Viking version, but had not seen the Owen styles as shown. I had only seen the Owen circular design that is shaped similar to mine. The larger of the two Owen designs shown has a better cup design. The balls are not as obscured. That's something I really like about the Conradi design. Greater Magic shows good detail of this in a drawing. The overall design of that larger Owen design is a bit over the top in my opinion. Extreme Goth!!

I have however, seen the old Thayer version (Perfecto Ball Stand), similar to the smaller by Owen; one that Joe Stevens has here:

http://stevensmagic.com/rareantiques/index.htm

I am not familiar with what Rooklyn used. I'm guessing it's similar to the Thayer version? (Looks like a perch with feed cups?)

~michael

Michael;
Rooklyn's model is shown along with drawings in his book. His billiard ball routine work is there too. His is more like the Conradi model than the Thayer straight line version.
Jim

Thanks!