The Cups and Balls Museum is closed. I have disabled all access to the web site, so once you get to the main page, when you try to log in, you will get an error message. This is the result of a series of personal events that have occurred over the past year or so.

I will be selling the contents of the museum over the next few months. I will probably retain a few sets that I have become rather attached to, but at least 75% of the cups will be out of here by the end of the year.

I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the museum. Many of you have donated cups, many of you have asked questions that caused me to investigate and question the history of the routine as it had been presented by other magicians and collectors.

I've met a lot of friends through the museum.

I'll be putting a list of those who have helped me the most in a few days.

I'll probably put together some packages of types of cups for the people who want various kinds of sets.

Please do me one favor. Please do not send in requests for sets of cups at this time.

I'll post more about this in the future.

Meanwhile, I want to thank all of you who participated in any way to the development of the museum.

For research purposes, I will be reopening the site in a month or two. Right now, the Museum is in stasis.

Hi Bill,

I still cannot believe this... I wish you all the best, please stay in touch with us in the forum.

Best Regards

Francis

This is VERY sad to hear, Bill. I want to thank you for all that you've done with the museum and being an incredible fountain of knowledge here at the Café. Wish you nothing but the best, sir.

James

Bill: Sorry to hear that you are closing the C&B museum. Thank you for sharing it over the years. We all wish you well in whatever you decide to do. Kind Magical Regards from Colonel Clark!

Sadly, all good things come to an end. Bill will go down in magic's history of the finest, most knowledgeable person "ever" regarding the Cups & Balls.

Sorry to hear of this Bill. Life does have it's ups and downs but please stay in the loop. Your wisdom would be badly missed.

Bill,

It was great while it lasted... I have so enjoyed the C&BM over the years. Like many, I became interested in Cups because of Bill and appreciate all that he has shared with us.

Bill... thank you so much and I wish you the best in whatever you do.

Thanks,
Bruce

Thanks Bill for all your efforts. You've taught me a lot.

Larry

Bill, why not ask Gabe Fajuri to find a collector that would buy the entire collection of the museum (except for the cups you want to keep) and have a rich collector keep the museum running and increasing. I know that Gabe would have potential buyers that may take up the work you have so brilliantly carried out over the years and keep it going.
Dispersing the cups to collectors will possibly lose the history attached to each set where a unique buyer could keep the knowledge available...

Just a thought... (and in any case don't sell short the Buccellati cup that I gave you, it really is worth a small fortune nowadays)

Hope you're well

Bill, you have brought a great deal of knowledge to a great deal of people, through your museum...and many other ways, I am sure. Thank you for all the work you have put in to bring the magic world more knowledge of the cups and balls.

This makes me sad. I was hoping I could see it. Take care Bill.

Ohh
no more cups and balls museum...

Bill,
Good luck with the sell off. If I can help in any way, just call.

Bill, I am sad to hear this. I wish this collection could have been put on DVD or in a book, so that it would continue to work for you after it has been sold. As with all wonderful things in magic, it needs to be somehow preserved for history.

~michael

Bill, I too am sad to hear about this. Thank you for kindness and for teaching and sharing. I will miss the C&BM. I hope you can find a way to preserve the collection. All my best wishes, -Scott

Wow! What a shocker! Bill is the very centre of gravity of the Cups and Balls magic fraternity, and the museum was, well, THE shrine and an immensely valuable research station for all of us.

Will take a little while for this to sink in.

Bill: all the best to you in all your future endeavors, be they great or small. Above all, I wish you happiness, good health, and long life.

Hope we can stay in touch,

Your friend,

Sean

Hello Etienne--

Not to worry. The Bucellati cup is definitely one of the "keepers"! I know what it's worth. But the value as a gift from a friend is even greater than the "worth" of the cup.

Also, don't worry about me -- I'm doing fine. I have just been put into a position of having to make some tough decisions.

I'll talk to Gabe about this.

Bill

Just to put everyone's mind at ease -- the museum, itself, will be back on line again soon. I have a lot to do between now and when it reopens. It will continue as a virtual museum, a resource that will exist in cyberspace.

Bill,
When you put it back online, can I have an account so I can have a look at the cups?
I would love to virtually visit the museum.
Thank you.
Greetings,
Cirrus