Hi guys,

Today I got out all of my sets. I had nothing to do and the wife was doing the laundry upstairs. I got out my set of El Duco mini's and discovered that they were cracked. Never saw this before. The last time I had them they were fine, this was last month. I have no idea how this could happen, maybe someone has an idea. So with great sadness I have to say goodbey to this set. Did you ever had the same experience or did you ever had to trow away a set?

http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp136/Floyd_78/HPIM2480.jpg
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp136/Floyd_78/HPIM2479.jpg
http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp136/Floyd_78/HPIM2481.jpg

Etienne

I wouldn't throw those out. Even if there's nothing you can do with them, don't throw them out, there's always a raw value for the materials. Those cups must've gotten knocked off of their resting place. I'm sorry, it's a sad day when a cup meets its demise. 

Scary pictures!

Indeed they are, still figuring out what happened to them. I tried to throw them away but something stopped me. Think I will give them a proper place somewere in the livingroom where they can rest in peace.

Etienne

I don't think this would happen from dropping the cups, even if they hit a concrete floor...
It looks like they were crushed and that the pressure was applied right at the ring. Is it possible something heavy was dropped on the cups while they were stacked and laying on their side? Did you move recently?
The cups don't look bent around the rims, they look like they just cracked at the ring from pressure...

Because I have limited space in the livingroom I keep my Cups in a aluminum (tool)case. Each set of cups has its own space in there. I've kept them in there for about 6 or 7 years. Every month they come out to play several days. Last month I had them out and there was nothing. Put them back in the case were they belonged and now this has happened. They got plenty of room in the case.

Etienne

Looks to me that the cups should have been annealed once more before finishing. The metal is hard and brittle. Its a trade off when making cups . Two soft they bend easily ,to hard and the can fracture. I suspect these were spun without annealing and over worked.
I would heat them up with a blow torch and fill the gap with silver solder or plain solder. .then polish . It will show but could look really cool. Or you could the plate them.
Or throw them away.

There you go floyd! get out the blow torch and get goin'! Try not to burn the house down...

Etienne,

Wow, I have never seen a set of Cups split like that. I am so sorry… it makes me sad. Don’t throw them out; maybe you can make a cool art piece out of them our El Duco would sell you a replacement Cup.

Are they a Cup that you would recommend? Did you like them before the accident?

Take care,
Bruce

Me and a blow torch.....right. Then I am sure I will need a new house. Thanks Gary for the advise. I will look around if I can find someone that can do that for me. Maybe it will look cool. Brass cups with a silver vain.


I liked those little cups. Attic space is nearly nothing, you can't stack with 3 balls on top, not even with the balls provided. There is just enough room for one ball. But they feel wonderfull in my hands. Recommending them........if one can find a nice routine for them why not. Not my cup of tea. But I still like the look and feel of the cups. Always been a sucker for babies.

Etienne

I sent an email to El Duco asking about the cups and how it's possible that they can crack. I even attached a picture. Have to wait now, got an email back that they were in bejing.

Etienne

Gary has come up with the cause. This is what happens when you don't anneal a brass cup during the spinning process. Jim Riser anneals copper cups six times during a spin. Annealing takes the tension out of the metal. Brass is even worse about work hardening than copper is.

A lot of brass and/or plated Paul Fox candy dishes cracked at the mouth bead for the same reason.  It may be difficult to repair these with solder, although if you use Sta-Brite, which is a silver bearing solder, you can do it without a lot of trouble or specialized equipment.

Of course, you will see a repair line.

Hopefully, the folks who acquired the rights to the El Duco items from the Gustafson estate will be able to furnish a replacement cup.
 

I have sent them an email, just have to wait till they return from Bejing.


Actually I hope that they can replace 2 cups. 2 cups have really big cracks.

Etienne

Well, you can always learn a mini one cup and ball routine.

you're right there Bill, should be easier than a 3 cup routine.

Etienne