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JESmagic New user Ann Arbor, MI 90 Posts |
Been awhile since I posted on the forum here. I was organizing my cup collection since we moved, and I was polishing several sets of cups. I noticed that all of my original Danny Dew Paul Fox cups have open mouth beads. I was looking at some of the newer sets that I have, which have closed mouth beads. I know, with the precision and meticulous attention to detail that companies like Rings and Things--whom I am proud to associate with--go to in order to make sure that mouth bead is closed. An open bead would never pass Donnie's quality control standards, and most magician's purchasing cups want that closed "finished bead" look. That said, sometimes I think that if it was good enough for Danny to let the mouth beads remain open...is there any real downside?
There really is no difference in function. It's purely aesthetic, although an open mouth bead might collect dirt. Then again, it is easier to plate an open beaded cup. My personal preference is authenticity to the original--if it was part of the original design, there isn't any reason to change it. So, all of my personal sets of working cups have open mouth beads. But I do appreciate the craftsmanship of the closed bead. Fortunately, I have both in my collection....and have made them both ways. Interested to hear what others have to say. Hope everyone is well, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Regards Jonathan Schweid, MD, FACS President, JESmagic JESmagic Squatty Cups (R) |
Leo H Inner circle 1333 Posts |
Hi Dr. Schweid--nice to see you back here. I wondered what had happened to you. I've seen a lot of Type 2 PF/DD cups with open mouth beads in photos from magic auctions and so forth. I'm guessing this didn't bother Mr. Dew. He probably thought nothing about this and accepted it as just part of the design. If he had found this aspect unacceptable, he would have rejected all those cups. In early 1960s ads for the Type 1 PF cups that Dew released, the cups in the photos have open mouth beads.
On the other hand, current cup collectors are discriminating and seem to prefer the closed bead look. Donnie evidently understands this current criteria from his customers and open mouth bead cups are not in his inventory. I prefer the close bead look, but if hunting for vintage PF/DD cups, I won't let open beads get in the way. Anybody looking for vintage PF/DD cups should let that quirk fall by the wayside. |
BCS Inner circle 1083 Posts |
Johnathan,
I am in agreement with Leo for the most part... My collection has mouth beads from one end of the spectrum to the other. Where it does bug me is mostly with inexpensive Cup sets; where there are great variants from one Cup to the other, where the manufacture spun the bead that it looks more like it is folded rather than rolled and the worse offense where the bead edge toward the body of the Cup is ragged (not smooth). Take care, Bruce |
Leo H Inner circle 1333 Posts |
Hi Jonathan--the most egregious open mouth beads I've seen are on the Tom Frank Phoenix cups, but I've seen this on other cups as well. Cups just look better with closed mouth beads.
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Mobius303 Inner circle Lakewood, Ohio 1309 Posts |
Looking through the cups and balls museum.....they are all beautiful in their own way.
I like the look of the closed ones more though but it depends on the overall look of the cup. I have the Bells of St. May's cups from the original run of RNT and they have an open bead. They look and sound great. I have the Brass Bells and they have a closed bead and do not ring as nice as the originals. The Paul Fox cups look great both ways as well. My Sherwoods have a closed bead and ring real nice too....so it really does not matter to me either way. I wouldn't sweat it too much as that is not something I am worried about when I perform my routine. I grab some cups and go. Mobius |
Mad Jake Inner circle All the voices in my head helped me make 2200 Posts |
What set of Sherwoods do you have that ring? The brass or the silver?
Jake The Paul Fox cups look great both ways as well. My Sherwoods have a closed bead and ring real nice too....so it really does not matter to me either way. I wouldn't sweat it too much as that is not something I am worried about when I perform my routine. I grab some cups and go. Mobius [/quote]
Licensed Steve Dusheck Manufacturer and distributor visit www.airshipmagic.com
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Mobius303 Inner circle Lakewood, Ohio 1309 Posts |
Brass
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Almost every Paul Fox cup I have seen that was produced by Danny Dew or Paul Fox has an open bead. I think this has to do with what happens if you plate a cup and there is no place for the acids from the plating process to run off.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
Mad Jake Inner circle All the voices in my head helped me make 2200 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 4, 2015, Bill Palmer wrote: That is the exact reason Bill. The cyanide and acids they use to clean and prepare cups, you have to have an open bead or the acid and cyanide strike would eat away at the metal. I use one of the BEST platers in the US. There are not many left that the EPA will let use the cyanide copper strike. Once plated, it's never coming off. I still have a set of chrome Montis aka Bells of St Marys they did for over a decade ao with no chipping or peeling. You get what you pay for. Jake
Licensed Steve Dusheck Manufacturer and distributor visit www.airshipmagic.com
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ringmaster Inner circle Memphis, Down in Dixie 1974 Posts |
Thanks Jake,
Now I feel better about my 2end generation (unauthorized) Charlie Millers. They're going to get satin chrome after some other things get paid off.
One of the last living 10-in-one performers. I wanted to be in show business the worst way, and that was it.
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The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Ever so sleightly » » Cups--Open vs Closed Mouth Bead...thoughts?! (2 Likes) |
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