I saw some really sharp little cases from $12.99 - $27.99 at Wal-Mart tonight that looked perfect for carrying a table-hopping array of props.

The brand is Vaultz and you can check out a range of their products at: http://www.Vaultz.net

My favorites are:

The pencil box:
http://www.ideastreamproducts.com/vaultz/Pencil.html

The media binders:
http://www.ideastreamproducts.com/vaultz/Binder.html


The ones I saw in Walmart came in three sizes. One was probably too small to do much good. The next size was made to hold two stacks of DVDs, and the link below is the biggest size. Both of the larger sizes could double as a surface for close-up tricks.

I didn't get one (choked) but will probably go back. You'll want to rip out the CD sleeves, but there are 2 mesh pockets that are useful, and it just looks like an interesting, professional -- and dare I say magical -- looking attache.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4058118

-Daniel

Click here to view attached image.

I've been thinking about getting one of the "Vaultz" cases for my "Al Stanger Poker Machine"...just for safe keeping. Spend this kind of money on a Texas Instruments calculator, and you don't want it destroyed.

Steve

Vaultz cases are very nice. I actually bought one 2 years ago. They are constructed very well.

Regan

Wow really strange, I just posted here and it vanished. No pun there but for real. Anyweay I have meant to look for those cases each time I go to WalMart and I forget. I am goin gto go look for them this weekend. I will be the one in the store with the post it notes all over me saying "look for the cases". Really they do look good and sturdy. I do very little close up but I have a feeling they will come in handy for me with my smaller props. Thanks for the info Daniel.

Steven

I just bought the larger case, and I think I'm going to really like it. It has a black rubber nubby exterior that actually works quite well as a close up mat. And, best of all, my new Foxy Mini cups fit in it perfectly!

Also, check out the mini camera cases that fit on your belt. Perfect for a deck of cards. The “CaseLogic” one is the slickest, but the $1 nylon one actually fits 2 decks and a packet trick.

-Daniel

I'm using the Vaultz's security file box for my party performances - elegant, easy to carry and store right.

I am a HUGE fan of the Vaultz cases. I started with the "cash box" and found you can get all kinds of magic in it. It even has a tray to separate the smaller items.

Then they released the "pencil box" and that has become my NEW favorite. Both were found at Office Max (office supply store). The pencil boxes were a trial item last year, sold at the start of the new school season, and I have not seen them since.

According to the Vaultz customer service department, they went over so well that they are thinking of bringing them back, but only as an annual item, found during the back to school sales in the Fall.

The Vaultz brand of cases are perfect. Rugged, sturdy, easy to carry and perfect in size. They're great!

I Wonder if these are available in the good ole UK?

Has anyone attatched a base to one of these? Are the walls sturdy enough to take a flange?

I haven't tried it, but I would not want to attach a flange to my case. I don't believe it is sturdy enough the way it is. It would be easy to reinforce the bottom of the case from the inside and it would not even be noticeable. Mine is a larger case, so a smaller one might work ok the way it is, but I don't know.

Regan

Next time I go to staples, I will be looking for them. I will get the pencle case for restaurant work, and those times when you only need a few props to bring, that would be perfect. I am also going to buy the big security box for props at home that I need to store somewhere, or those props you don't use in your act RIGHT now, but may in the future. That cash box looks like it could be goos too. If you take out the plastic insert, you could put cards, sponges, coins, all kinds of stuff. It would be like the pencil case, exept for more, bigger stuff. Or, if you kept the plastic insert in, you would be able to have little compartments for coins, cards, sponges, possibly jumbo coins, packet tricks. Man, the possibilities are endless! I might just get all three. Is there a way I can see the prices? Thanks for showing us! -Cory.

Thanks for the link Daniel. These are perfect for smaller effects.

A word of warning - I have learnt that cases that look new and shiny are a magnet for thieves. Very often when working, one has to leave one's case etc lying around in staff rooms, under food tables, near the band etc. I have chosen to have a very peculiar looking case made in a very particular colour with my name and 'magician' al over it. Partly because this suits my performing personality (which is rather flamboyant) but mainly because it discourages people from walking off with my case!

Ya, that could be a problem. My solution: lock up the case, and if the theives are that desperate to find out how you did it, they will open it up, just to find pure hydrogen and a spark set off by opening the case. KAAAA BLOODY BOOOOM!!!!!!!

(Just kidding, don't try this, may result in death, and well, that's about it...)

But seriously, I would just lock it up, and put it in a safe spot.

But, if the person keeps looking at it like they want it, just politly go up, "Excude me sir, does this rag smell like chloroform to you?"

:)

I found some nice small antique looking boxes at Michaels. Mine is about 8"high,12" wide and 8" deep and has a carry handle on top. Good for close up stuff and looks good too. I think mine was about $15.

Heres another source - http://www.casesgalore.com - these are geared more toward the close up guy but they are nice to organize things - I think they are a bit cheaper that Vaultz as well.

Steve,

Great link......

Cheers

Anyone know if these are available in the UK?

Magicmike221

I am sure you can import them... Have them shipped....

I was just at Office Max and they have some of the large Vaultz file chests for $39.99 bundled with the small pencil box cases, which are perfect for close-up.

Look for the ones marked "FREE Locking Pencil Box" (only 1 was marked that way at my local store- the rest were without the free pencil case). I found mine on an endcap (on the end of an aisle).

The ones that do not come with the free pencil case also do not have the nifty velcro straps in the lid to hold the pencil case in.