I originally got a trick like this quite some time ago that worked using the same principle.
My version was a three foot long 1/2-inch diameter copper tube and a ball bearing.

This is a more modern version of my same trick but the holes allow the audience to see what is going on.
Pretty cool trick and the science behind it is even cooler.
https://youtu.be/99mibzCAmDE

I made one up myself from copper pipe and super magnets. It really should be called Maxwell's Revenge. But then I am a nerd.

Yeah, when I do the trick, I want to expose it as it blows people's minds.
The science is more cool than the magic in this sense!

I love this trick the science behind it is fascinating. If you tilt the tube a little it slows it down even more except when the spec tries it. I have another apparatus that really shows off this principal it is called Feel Flux. Uses a large round neodymium magnet and the tube is solid copper very thick it slows the ball down to a crawl super amazing to watch. I recommend getting one if you like this effect. They sell it in aluminum and copper. The copper is a must have it makes it float down the slowest. Rapped in leather it has a great look and feel. But for use as a magic effect Newtons Nightmare is great effect for the price.

I made one of these years, and years ago when neo magnets first came out. I developed a routine with a spherical neo and ball bearing. In fact I wanted to sell it and discussed it with James George but for reasons I don't recall, it never worked out.

Rather than use magic type methods to have the bearing fall up the tube afterwards? Maybe switch the tube for one that does not have that magnetic property?

Copper doesn't technically have any magnetic properties -- it's a really good conductor of electricity, though. The magnet (and Lenz' law) is what's doing all the work. Indeed, you could even take a horseshoe magnet or the like and show it doesn't stick to the tube to demonstrate the tube doesn't have any funky magnetic properties.

I use two of these with a participant where at first they can't get it to slow down but after a bit of by play they can do it too. It's really a hoot.

My kids love this one. great way to give them positive feelings about science.

Any tube that is paramagnetic should work. If it can conduct an electrical current then the effect will work via Lenz's Law as mentioned above. Aluminum, copper, steel all will work.

I recently bought the Wellington version on ebay for $65, a great deal since list price is $150 and it is like-new. I've been in magic over 50 years and never knew about this principle.
With magic, you never stop discovering things!

I have seen these at much lover price than you mentioning here.
Is there some reason for this?

It is a cool effect though.

A few years back I built a coin version of this based on the Lens Principle, you will find it on this brief video below:


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=olIf5iS3kyI

Chuck

Is the moon rock and the metal strip the only the difference between the Wellington that costs $150.00 and the one I have that cost $15.00 or is there something I'm missing?

That is super cool! I like this version!