Hi Bruce,
I'm not in the electrical industry - but I do like the James Whale Frankenstein movies... my day job is in the IT industry, internet development and networks.
I like chop cups too - particularly Combo sets.
My absolutlely favorite seated routine with a combo set is Gary Ouellet's The Two Goblets - it's a masterpiece with two cups and one ball, a shot glass, a silk handkerchief and 3 jumbo loads. VERY magical and extremely well thought out. I have a copy in PDF format...
But I did just order a full size Don Alan chop cup from RNT2 and want to go back to the Danny Korem routine and see if I can make it work for me. I've always been more of a micro chop cup guy - packs small, plays big. I like the Dennis Loomis routine - with the flask, but sans the juggling.
Oh, and there are two pictures of the Pressley Goblet in the Cups and Balls Museum under the Chop Cups section. I didn't even know what it was until I found it on Palmer's website, I've had it for so long. I picked it up because I thought it was cool. These days the silver plating is showing some wear - but it is a good gimmicked prop to use in a seance or bizarre effect where a goblet would be appropriate.
OK, I have some collector tendencies... but I'm trying to resist them.
Is there a 12 step program for this?
Cup Collectors Anonymous?
"Hi my name's Donald and I'm a cup collector."
- Don

I know exactly what you mean in the Frankenstein movies. Have you ever seen the silent movie Metropolis? There are lots of neat gadgets in it also. I am in the CE business; our industry is moving closer each day to integrate with yours.

I recently purchased a DVD with Gary performing his 2 Cup routine, it was the first time I ever saw it and I was impressed. He used some funky looking Cups though.

I will look for the Pressley Goblet next time I am at the C&B Museum.

I am in a state of denial at the moment over my collection… I will seek help when I am ready.

Thanks,
Bruce

I've never seen Gary perform. What DVD is The Two Goblets on? The funky looking cups were probably the Gold Goblets that the Camirand Academy produced to accompany the routine. There is a photo of them at www.CupsandBallsMuseum.com (which is offline at the moment I am writing this...)
And I know Metropolis - Fritz Lang classic.

Don,
I never saw Gary perform either until I watched this DVD “The Secrets of the Chop Cup” from LL Publishing. It looks like his performance was filmed in the early 80’s. I remember first reading about this routine around 1978.
Take care,
Bruce

I never considered myself a collector, but without even trying, I have a small collection!

Here it is:

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp168/barbell7/101_0194.jpg

The copper ones are my brand new standard size cups from Jim Riser. My favorites! Yahoooo!
The set of three aluminum cups is from Morrisey.
The Indian cups are also Morrisey, I think.
The Chop cup is aluminum, but no idea who made it.

Tom
barbell7

I can see that those aluminum Morrisey's have been through a lot, but they're still holding up quite nicely. They don't show too much damage. Those Riser standards are wonderful, although single beaded cups aren't really my taste. Those Indian cups have a unique look to them. How long have you had them? Do you ever play around with an Indian routine?

Thanks for checking 'em out. I've had the Indian Cups for YEARS. I've only used them a few times, and only showed my brother, once. The set comes with about ten cork balls. They're very different and I guess difficult to use properly. I suppose you just have to get used to them. So now they collect dust. I just can't come up with any brilliant ideas.

Here's a good video, straight from India.

<a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xejx3_indianstreetmagic" target="_blank" class="aeva_link bbc_link new_win">http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xejx3_indianstreetmagic</a>

Tom
barbell7

I think the Bret Sherwood plain copper cups look much better than the engraved ones

I prefer plain cups, too.

Tom,
Have you mastered the Indian Cups? What are your thoughts on the Morrissey set that you have? I just received a booklet written by Pete Biro on the Indian/Hindu Cups and will be looking for a set soon.

Take care,
Bruce

Bruce,
I never mastered the Indian cups. I gave up. Sitting on the floor like they do is OK, I like that, but dipping into that bag so many times to get bigger and bigger balls is tough. Of course the guy in the video just has the balls jumping around. He doesn't keep going into the bag. I couldn't think of any other way to perform it. Maybe the secret is to not worry about a big final load. The guy in the video didn't. I got my cups long before the Internet. Now with YouTube, there's routines everywhere to get ideas from....Maybe I'll try again some day.

I like the Morrissey combo set. They've got a million miles on them. I bang them together; hit them with my wand. However, I never used the combo feature a lot. I don't know how the strength of the gimmick compares to other sets, but it seems good to me. There again, trouble thinking out of the box. Anyway, they're made out of aluminum and very light. They came with 1 1/8 inch red balls. Only one ball fits in the attic. The cups can't take a tennis ball, but they take a racquet ball with room to spare. I use blue racquet balls. The chopped cup looks almost identical to the others. I can tell them apart at a glance, but other people I've shown the cups to say they all look the same.

I kept hearing so much about everybody liking heavier cups, I went out and bought a set of copper cups. I like them better, but why do we all have several sets? Nothing wrong with my oldie but goodie aluminum cups.

I hope you get a set and like it. It is a very clever feature!

Tom
barbell7

Tom…. Thanks for the comments on the Indian/Hindu Cups. They peak my interest along with the Alan/Benson Bowel routines as I continue to learn more about Cups.

The youtube video is pretty cool to watch of the I/H Cups, has any one come across a good A/B Bowel video?

Take care,
Bruce

Bruce,

good luck with the indian cups, I was never fond of that kind of routine. Those are cups I really don't like for some reason.

Etienne

Hi All… So I stopped by the office to see what was delivered while I was away on vacation, some new pieces arrived…. However no RNT2 Cups.

Below are the newest family picture, can you find the new Cups?

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/IMG_1245.jpg

http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/IMG_1248.jpg

Best wishes to all,
Bruce

Bruce,

the patina on jes squatty 2 turn out great. Love it

Cheers
Andre