If you check-out Magicpitch.com you might be able to get Gary Animal's older style cups for $99! I bought a set, and while not knowing too much about Cups, I can say that these are large nice cups. These are great for beginners. He only had a few sets left. It took about 8 days for them to be delivered to me in the States.

Charles Spector

Lately I have used the Riser Mini Cups (carry in jacket pocket) and my own Hindu Indian Cups. OK, I sell Galli Galli and Johnny Paul cups, but don't do the streets so I don't need the large Gallis myself, but having had years of doing the Vernon routine with Paul Fox cups I didn't feel like learning the ins and outs of the Johnny Paul routine (but, if I was working a bar or restaurant that would be my FIRST choice).

The Hindu cups are unique and offer a very funny premise that really plays well for me.

http://www.cupsandballs.nl defunct?

I chatted with this dutchman at his booth at SAM 100th in NYC. I forgot his name but I cannot get his link to work. Is he still in business? He turns out really beautiful cups. I got a kick out of his finish. He offered the 3 stacked cups for examination after the fruit? production. They seemed like the same 3 cups that I had just watched during the routine but when I handled them...They were ONE PIECE OF METAL!
I guess he soldered 3 together in a stack. I wont forget it.

Not so. The site works for me.
tr

Thanks very much for the kind words.

Yea, I do have a kind of different outlook on cups and balls. I pretty much see it as an impromptu effect. Because of that, I've spent a lot of time preparing for those "impromptu" performances..

Below is a link to the short write up I made on cups and balls that where mentioned. I made this page for two reasons. One is honestly just to display a little of my collection. I also hope it'll just give some other magicians something to think about when it comes to the cups and balls. Maybe it'll trigger some ideas that you haven't thought about.

At any rate, I hope you enjoy it.


Ron Jaxon

I use the Johnson Copper Combo Cups. I absolutely despised the crocheted balls that came with the set. Nothing against the balls really, I just found them difficult to handle.

Then I discovered that the House of Fakini made 1" silicone balls! They are the same quality as the rest of the Fakini line (i.e. the silicone compound makes palming a nearly effortless afterthought)

I'm not sure if Frank is still producing these or not. I picked mine up at the Abbott's Get-Together a few years ago for $5.00.

Jaxon. Those are some great cups ideas. I especially like the collapsable cups.

That foam collapsible cup look a lot like something I already have. I should give it a try.

To begin with sponge balls are no less of an impact as a final load than fruit or solid balls are.
It's the surprise that nails people. I use sponge balls as a final load often and then go into a sponge routine and I get excellent results. I guess it would depend on your routine of course but it does work!
I have used Michael Ammars rubber fruit but found it too cumbersome to carry around especially when table hopping or strolling. They take up lots of precious space. (they are a very good quality product though!) Sponge balls do not take up lots of space. They will fit in your front pockets nicely.
One other note. Nowadays, I use only 2 cups. The third is also extra hassle and not needed with a well structured routine.
Oh yea, I use Johnson C&B's.

See the following link about cups and balls. It a good link!

http://www.jamesriser.com/Cups/SelectingCups.html

I just bought a set of Jim Riser's mini cups and balls and they look great and handle beautifully. I've been buying magic props for 30 years and I don't think I've ever been happier with a purchase. Mr. Riser puts out a fantastic product.

I have a number of different sets of cups. Sisti, Fox, and original Bertram. As for the balls I loved the set Garcia had, they were solid and had "life". I finally found a source for a solid 7/8" ball. Problem they were black and the material resisted most kinds of paint. Finally found a paint that would adhere well to the material and stay a little flexible.

Plastic cups with a slightly recessed edge so they can nest so I can store them.....

and sponge balls

for the FINAL LOADS, I use tinfoil or lemons.

I use the Danny Dew Paul Fox copper cups almost exclusively. I have other brands and about 10 sets, but keep going back to the Fox cups. Mine have never been polished, so they look antique and very interesting. There is something about the balnce and weight and the nice chunck and ring sounds you can produce from these cups. They also stack very securely without wobble.

The next set will probably be the Brett Sherwood Silver cups as I was about to have a set of my Fox cups engraved and plated. I like the look and want a set like that for my Tux Style Show. I have been able to handle a set and so am working on finding some extra paying shows to gather the funds. If someone has a set out there they want to offer me a deal on, please let me know.

With all due respect, I think you get a better more lasting response to solid final load balls. I use three large balls and a lemon and everyone comes up and squeezes them and comments, "Oh, they don't collaspe!" and "It's a real Lemon!"

Certainly the surprise is there no matter what you produce, but the larger and more firm, the better.

Kirk

Kirk cups are great... this aftrnoon at an antique shop I found a set of Indian (from India) cups that are awesome... all brass, thick, solid, ring like a bell and have about 200 years of patina.... definitely will be performing with these.

I like the tinfoil idea. light weight.

Pete and Ron from the Café provided me enough info that I ended up getting a set of the JES cups which are supposedly a lot like the Paul Fox cups. I have not received them yet but they look great and I love the Paul Fox design. I see no difference in the look.

We'll have to see how they compare to my lovely Johnson cups. I really like those too.

I'm not a huge fan of the engraved look but I will say that I would not turn down the Sherwoods. Boy they look nice.