Bill Palmer's company, Adesso Verlag, has just released a new set of cups and balls in cooperation with Magic, Inc. These cups are based on the Laurie Ireland cups, which Ireland Magic Company sold for many years. Later, when Ireland's became Magic, Inc., they continued to sell the cups. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the passing of Laurie Ireland, Bill got permission from Jay Marshall to have these copper cups spun on the same chucks that are used for the aluminum cups that Magic, Inc. sells. I have one of the first sets that came out.

They are slightly taller than the aluminum cups. Bill asked the spinner to lengthen the skirt area slightly so the cups will do the three ball display. They are a medium weight cup. They feel very good in the hands. The design is a traditional one.

The price is quite good, too. A set costs only $70.00. They are available only from Adesso Verlag and Magic, Inc.

Anywhere to view a pic of this? Thanks.

Yes. You can go to http://www.adessoverlag.com/cupsandballs.htm . The set is on display there. The same photo is on line at the cups and balls museum as well.

<<They are slightly taller than the aluminum cups>>

Unless my eyes are deceiving me, they are the same height as the aluminum Laurie Irelnad Cups.

I too have these, and must say they are great! I have always liked the Ireland design, but never liked the lightness of the aluminum. With the new design in copper, I find these perfect for a multitude of venues: close up, stage, ren fairs, etc.

Only 50 sets were made, and they may or may not be made again. If you plan on getting a set, I suggest you hurry.

Somebody refresh my memory. Was the Ireland routine written up with sponge balls or crocheted balls? I seem to remember sponge, but I may be getting it confused with his old ad for Sponge & Silver, another somewhat overlooked routine of his.

I thought it was sponges. I thought the Ireland routine was included with the cups (not the commemerative, the regular aluminum), but I did not get one. Too bad, I was looking forward to it...

I'll clear all of this up. The Ireland routine was done with fairly large sponge balls. However, most cup and ball workers these days work with crocheted balls, instead. When I asked about having these made, I was looking for a set of copper cups of reasonably high quality, but a reasonably low price, that would be suitable for people to use when working at Renaissance Festivals. I purchased a set of the aluminum Laurie Ireland aluminum cups from Magic, Inc. These are good cups, but you can't nest them with three crochted balls on top of them.

So I asked the people who spin them to lengthen the skirt by 1/8 of an inch. They did this by moving the shoulder bead up the cup 1/8 of an inch. The cup is the same height, but the attic space has been increased just a tiny bit. All of the moves that were possible with the original Laurie Ireland routine are still possible with these cups, PLUS, you can do all of the standart material as well.

The book with the Ireland routine in it is still available from Magic, Inc. I do recommend it highly. It has lots of clever moves in it.

I furnish a set of load balls, an inexpensive close-up mat and an inexpensive wand with each set, as well as a booklet from Royal magic on how to do the cups and balls.

Plus he also gives you GREAT customer service...

Thanks, David!

I really like my Laurie Ireland cups. They have a good feel to them and still have the traditional look.

I just got received my set of cups and I must say I don't know how Bill Palmer does it for the price. With the price of magic cups today closing in on $100 for beginner's metal sets and passing four figures for the high end sets, these represent an incredible value. And, I'm not even considering that they come with crocheted balls, load balls, a pad, a wand and an instruction book (not sheet, book!)

My understanding is that the production will be limited. I'd really urge everyone to spend a paltry $70.00 and get a set of these.

John:

Thanks for the kind words. If I'd had to pay for the tooling, I would not have been able to produce these cups for this price. However, since the chucks were already done, all I had to pay for was the metal and the spinning. If I were wholesaling these out to other people, I would have to double the price.

I wanted a set of good traditional cups to sell at my Renaissance Festival lectures.

Where are you going to be doing your lecture?