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Mad Jake Inner circle All the voices in my head helped me make 2200 Posts |
Last weeks run of copper wire at 142.95 was a bargain. I was in the dealers today picking up some brass screws, the same run of wire that was 142.95 last week now costs 179.88. This is getting stupid <LOL>
Jake
Licensed Steve Dusheck Manufacturer and distributor visit www.airshipmagic.com
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
And the situation is only exacerbated by the scrap metal buyers -- there's one here in Houston who advertises -- "Hey! Electricians, bring your wire in here and we'll strip it free!"
I'm sure all of those "electricians" bring in lots of scrap wire. I get a little suspicious of scrap wire in boxes or on cable reels.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-04-11 21:07, Jonathan Townsend wrote: Y'know, I was using three blue plastic cups from a party supply store. (Dixie cups are nice, but they don't have the space at the top to hide the balls) My wife picked me up a set of aluminum cups for $10.00 and I felt the routine (Mark Wilson's 'Cyclopedia of Magic) flow better. Would it flow even better with $40.00 copper cups (or the $450 gold and silver plated ones I saw in Genii)? Possibly, but I have to think of the law of diminishing returns. I can't justify $40 (or more) for cups when I don't really make anything at magic. If I was making top dollar (or even middle-range dollar) then I could justify the investment.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
This is possibly true. But even a set of Uday copper or brass cups, which sell for about $20 would have a better feel to them than a set of aluminum cups, unless the aluminum cups had really thick metal in them. The extra weight really helps.
In a way, it's a lot like playing a musical instrument. A beginning guitar player doesn't need a Martin D-45. But there is a certain minimum guitar that is necessary just to be able to play in tune, and to fret the strings with ease. After a certain price point on guitars, much of what you are paying for is decoration and features, many of which do not contribute noticeably to the sound.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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CJRichard Special user Massachusetts 542 Posts |
Before I'd read enough here, I bought some cheap aluminum cups that came with pom poms for balls. I've been practicing with them, but I wanted real balls instead of the pom poms. I knew the cups wouldn't even hold 1 inch balls, but the pom poms seemed to be between 3/4 inch and 1 inch, so I ordered 3/4 inch crochet balls.
As soon as the mail arrived, I got out my cups. Well. . . these cups won't stack with 3/4 inch balls! Now I have a set of balls and a set of cups, but I'm still out of luck. My wife has a book, "The Illustrated Book of Needlecrafts," from Good Housekeeping, Sterling Publishing, NY, 1994, that has instructions for both knitted and crocheted buttons. She's going to try making me some balls, but I really do need bigger cups. I hope to get this worked out without ending up with a collection the size of Bill's.
"You know some of you are laughin', but there's people here tryin' to learn. . ." -Pop Haydn
"I know of no other art that proclaims itself 'easy to do.'" -Master Payne Ezekiel the Green |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
The difference is that pom poms crush. You can get crocheted buttons and beads through various internet sites.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
I once saw some balls that had been crocheted around sponge rubber. I almost bought them but couldn't think of a use. Sorry.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
These are usually pretty big.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
CJ... Uh, go to a real live magic store and look at the cups and balls.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Sometimes the amount of time and effort expended in making a solution can be more than the cost of doing it right the first time.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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CJRichard Special user Massachusetts 542 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-12 17:48, Pete Biro wrote: I know, I know. The real, live magic store around here closed twenty years ago and it wasn't a really great one at any rate. I'm not far from Boston, but I sent Hank Lee the orders without driving up there myself. (Oh, and Pete, I bought the Ken Brooke and Friends Egg Bag Routine, too, although I don't have a Malini style bag yet.) And, yes, Bill, I know it's best to do it right the first time, but as others have said, sometimes budget does come into it. I've got a wife, a daughter and a guinea pig to feed. I figured the twenty dollar cups would get me going. (On a positive note, they did show me that I can perform cups and balls and that I want to continue working on this particular effect.) Since, I'm working on a historical presentation, I'd really like some traditional cups, but the ones I've seen advertised are just more than I can spend right now unless I cut the guinea pig's lettuce ration. . .
"You know some of you are laughin', but there's people here tryin' to learn. . ." -Pop Haydn
"I know of no other art that proclaims itself 'easy to do.'" -Master Payne Ezekiel the Green |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
Good, inexpensive traditional cups are hard to find. But they surface from time to time.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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fortasse Inner circle 1201 Posts |
Are there any cheap cups that are reasonably heavy?
Fortasse |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
No, not really. The closest thing would be the Phoenix cups when they come up on eBay.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-12 21:03, CJRichard wrote: I will never send Hank Lee's an order without looking at the stuff first! I still remember "Patrick's Hat Trick" and "The Multiplying Oreo Cookie" (Don't get me started on "After The Dessert")
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
That's one of the best arguments in favor of going to conventions. You can see so much at the dealers room.
I know conventions are expensive. But if you get an education from a trip or two through the dealers' room, think how much you save.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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fortasse Inner circle 1201 Posts |
Do any of these conventions hold any attraction for collectors of cups and balls? If so, does the pricing generally tend to be higher or lower than at the internet auctions (excluding the recent bizzare results with the Ross Bertram cups, of course)?
Fortasse |
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-13 19:14, Bill Palmer wrote: I have never been to a convention. I am just a poor boy ('though my story's seldom told.) I have plans to attend a convention in New Jersey in November... but I'm not holding my breath that they're going to work out!
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I've had pretty good luck at conventions. You may run into a bargain or two, but the most important thing you will do is make contacts. Some of my best suppliers are guys I met at conventions.
It's face-to-face networking. The Laurie Ireland Copper Commemorative cups may not have ever existed if I had not gone to an MCA convention. And even with as many cups as I have, I always manage to find something I don't have. This includes IBM conventions and TAOM conventions as well.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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