I have using double-back cards for quite awhile now and in fact have constructed a few of my own routines around them. I think their great gaffs and have been interested in them after finding out that this gaff is what Vernon used to fool Houdini.

Here's my issue:

Whenever I buy double-back cards by the deck from California Card Co. and Murphy's Magic, the double-backs are not printed on a standard bicycle stock. The stock is got a gloss to it and smoother on one side. Not only that but the stock isn't even really white! It really shows on the border but the stock is an off-white, so it stands out when added to a deck.
Whenever I have to use one of these, I have always looked past this and it flies, but the other day whenever performing at the shop I work at I had 2 people that day, ask, "Hey, why's that card shinier?!" and the other just told me "that card is a different color". The different color we was talking about was the fact that the borders looked yellow. My girlfriend noticed this a long time ago. This is very annoying. If it was an issue in my performance my responses would different and I would fix that, but they were commenting on the aestetics of the cards. The frustrating thing is that this brings attention to the card I don't attention brought to!

I try to use double back cards from the assortment deck supplied by Magic Makers (these cards are on a bicycle stock), since they look right. The problem is there aren't very many in there and the deck is much pricier than a deck of 52 double back cards made by California Card CO. What's frustrating is that this only with double back cards. The double face, blank face, blank back, and double blank cards from California Card CO. are on bicycle stock and aren't yellow or glossy at all.

Besides this rant I have a couple questions for Café-ers(that's a word now). First Have you ever noticed this with the double back cards? Secondly, Do you know where to get a deck of double back cards that really are on bicycle stock?

Contact Haines House Of Cards. They should be able to help you.

http://www.haineshoc.com/

Mark.

Yes I have noticed this. It is even worse when you get a deck that is printed a lighter shade of red (nearly pink) and you end up with a noticeable color change... not exactly the magical effect you were looking for. I lament the fact that the Fun Shop (our local brick and mortar shop) no longer carries magic. At least there you could inspect a deck before you committed to buy.

Greetings JC;
Drop me a line with your mailing address and let me know if you need R/R, R/B, or B/B double backers and I will send you some

All the Best
Marty

Cool, thanks Marty, I'll do that.

I know what you mean Bill, I just looked at the double backers I was complaining about and they ARE PINK. Well maybe not pink but a faded red. They don't blend in with my deck and seems to be to defeat the purpose.

Well I just wanted to know if anyone has noticed this too, and where to get good ones, and it seems both of my questions have been answered.

Does that go for JT as well, send me some too.....just yankin yer chain Marty, you are the best.

NUMS

Greetings Nums;
You still looking to get adopted? lol

I will have the new Rainbow decks on Friday next week 10/12/07. The U.S. Playing Card Co. changed some cards I laid out for this deck, but the proofs look great. There is a great variety and color combination in this deck and a couple special gaffs are being printed in the pack as well for other uses.

I leave Saturday night and get back the end of next week, I'll be able to let you know more when I return. The decks will be arriving while I am away..and guess who gets to unload the truck???...

All the Best
Marty

Rainbow decks??(!!) Marty... count me in! Please let me know more when you have more info.

evanjunko@msn.com

Thanks!
Evan

HI Marty have you ever seen or have in large quantity double backed cards that are NOT Red/Blue say a Green/Yellow or any other two colors.

TIA
Scott

Greetings Scott;
I have Bicycle backed with Tally-ho's factory printed in quanity, but other colors that are double backed, I have not seen any printed.
While they can be hand made, the cost gets too expensive, but on the other hand, having 10,000 decks printed is way to many and very expensive also.
Part of the problem with getting something custom printed is that it takes a long time from start to finish. For example on the rainbow deck, I had to lay out the 52 cards with backs that I wanted to use. Then I had to hand make each card so that it had a white border which involved inlaying the backs. This deck then had to go the the playing card co. who in turn makes the final decision as to what they will and will not print. In this case they turned down many cards which they said they had no idea who owned them. This was confusing because they were cards that came from my personal collection of cards from 1910 up to date, all printed by the U.S. Playing Card Co.
So back and forth, the cards went, designs were turned down, certain colors were turned down and such until the deck was finally approved. Then the 4 extra cards (usually two jokers and two advertsiing cards) needed to be designed to give 4 extra trick cards that can be used in other tricks and routines.
All of this back and forth took over a year and a half from the time the deck was initially submitted. I finally took delivery of my rainbow decks today.
While I do a lot of card gaffing, I do not custom print cards. You can check with two of the other card guys here on the Café (Cardmaker & Cardshark) both of which do printing and can possibly help you with making a special deck custom printed. It will not be a cheap deck to have made, but it will be a one of a kind. They can also give you a price on a quantity of the same card if you are planning on putting a new item on the market.
If you decide to go the whole magilla and get a deck custom printed by the U.S. Playing Card Co., contact me by private message or e-mail and I will try to help you by letting you know a lot of the details and tips that can keep your costs down.
Hope this has answered your question and helped some
All the Best
Marty

Your dvd was very useful to me in making my own gaffs. Thanks!

I second that. Martini is the man.

Andy

Greetings Guys;
I appreciate that very much, I am always glad to hear that my information is helpful to others. I am always around to help if you have any questions.
All the Best
Marty

Marty,

your DVD is my bible for gaffing. The fun I had with it and thanks to it can not be measured in $.

Andy

Greetings Andy;
Many Thanks for that kind comment.
All the Best
Marty

If you want bicycle doubled back card on bicycle stock, why are you buying them from california card company and not the uspcc where bikes are actually made. I have double backed made by the company that makes bikes and they match perfectly to the rest of my bikes, I got them here and I cant tell the gaffs from the real ones
http://www.magic.org/store/product_info......._id=2306