A Couple of Dons… RNT2 Don Alan Chop CupsDon Alan did not invent the Chop Cup but his name will forever be associated with it. As a magic prop the Chop Cup has been around for a long time, it was invented in the late 50’s by Al Wheatley, but it was Don Alan who made it his own after performing it on the Ed Sullivan Show in the early 60’s. Until Don Alan’s death in 1999, the Chop Cup was truly one of his signature effects.
Over the years several magic manufactures have produced Chop Cups using the Don Alan name such as Repro 71 and Encore Magic. To my knowledge only one company has the rights to make Chop Cups using the Don Alan name and that company is Rings and Things.
Rings and Things have been making Don Alan Chop Cups from the 70’s up to the present. If you visit The Cups and Balls Museum, you can find several examples of their Don Alan Chop Cups made over the years. Even though the Chop Cup is named after Don Alan, I could not find any evidence that he ever used the Rings and Things Cup that bears his name. I did find a You Tube video of Don performing on a late 70’s TV show, it is worth watching.
The Cups that I will be commenting on were made by RNT2. These Cups are the Don Alan Full Size Copper and Aluminum Chop Cups and the Don Alan Stubby Chop Cups.
Don Alan Full Size Copper and Aluminum Chop Cups:As most of us know, RNT2 has a new owner who is currently revamping and creating a new website for the new RNT2 company (
www.rnt2.com ). It appears that the Don Alan Full Size Chop Cups will continue as one of their fine offerings. The Full Size Cups stand about 3.5“ tall and have a mouth opening of 3.5“ wide. This is a good size Cup that fits very comfortably in one’s hand. Artistically the shape of the Cup is very pleasant to the eye, the slight curvature of its sides makes it look quite elegant and enhances the reveal of the final load (more on that later).
The Copper and Aluminum Cups are pretty much of the same construction and shape. Out of the two the copper version in my opinion, is the one to have. I say this because the Copper Don Alan Cup weighs much more and to me, Copper looks much better then aluminum be it shiny or let to turn that coffee brown we all desire.
Why should weight matter? Out of the two Cups the copper version does all the work for you, having that advantage to free you up to concentrate on your performance. Let me explain, with the aluminum Cup, a little more effort is required to make the magic happen. One needs to firmly set the Cup down to do its thing. This could be a tell tale sign to some about its working and also limits the working surface one can use the Cup on. The copper Cup due to its weight, pretty much does the work for you as you set the Cup down.
If you are lucky enough to have a set of RNT2 working balls, using the Cups becomes all the better due to their fine tuning capabilities. RNT2 balls can be adjusted to the Cup and how heavy of a hand one possesses. Even with this advantage, using the aluminum version is not what the copper Cup can offer. One just has to play with the two Cups and the advantage of the copper version will be made clear.
Each of the Don Alan Full Size Chop Cups is capable of holding a baseball for its final load. This means even an orange or large lemon can be used. Personally speaking, I have found that large fruit gets more oohs and ahs then the baseball and because of the Cups shape, they look too large to fit the Cups.
Don Alan Full Size Copper Chop Cup
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby003.jpgDon Alan Full Size Aluminum Chop Cup
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby004.jpgDon Alan Full size Chop Cups Exterior
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby012.jpgDon Alan Full Size Chop Cup Interior
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby016.jpgDon Alan Chop Cup Size Comparison
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby015.jpgDon Alan Stubby Chop Cups with Liners:To me the RNT2 Don Alan Stubby Chop Cups are little treasures, each work like a charm and are just cool to look at. As I stated above a heavy Cup is a good thing to have, the Stubby Dons are that and then some. The two Don Alan Stubby Chop Cups that I am lucky to have are very special. The first is spun of aluminum with a bronze liner; very few of these were made. The second is a 50th anniversary version made of copper with a bronze liner.
I hope that I have the story right as to why the Don Alan Stubby Chop Cups came to be. It is my understanding that the Don Alan 50th Anniversary Stubby Chop Cup was spun to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Chop Cup (2005). A shorter Cup was made when compared to the full size, because Don Alan preferred a shorter or stubbier Chop Cup. After the introduction of the Anniversary Cup several other variations were made, stainless steel with bronze liner, aluminum with aluminum liner and aluminum with bronze liner.
I know that I have made the statement that aluminum Chop Cups don’t perform to my likings; however this aluminum Cup with a bronze liner is a different animal. With the addition of the bronze liner this Cup performs like a champ. It has a very nice heft to it and a balanced feeling. I liken its feeling to that of the SBL Strolling Heavy Copper Chop Cup (please see its review), this Cup works on automatic, place it down and the deed is done.
Appearance wise, it is quite striking finished in brushed aluminum having a yellow bronze interior and lip. The brushed finish looks fantastic, if the Cup was polished aluminum it just would not look right. I think this is a neat looking Cup.
The Anniversary Don is probably one of the best looking Cups that I own (we all have our own tastes). Right now, the copper and bronze have started to turn with the bronze looking closer to the copper color wise, with just the slightest difference of hue. Inscribed on its lip are the words “RNT2 Don Alan Anniversary Cup.” Performance wise, this Cup is a dream… again heft comes into play and the way it feels in my hand is like it is an extension of my hand.. Those that see this Cup oft times comment what a nice looking Cup this is. I have never had that response from a Cup before.
Each of the Stubby Cups is 3” tall and 3.5” wide. Like the Full Size Don Alan Chop Cups, these too can handle a baseball as a final load. There is a catch however, because of their size when concealing a baseball before the reveal, the slightest amount of the ball is visible… that is if one gets close up and inspects the mouth of the Cup. This is no worry, when used on a close-up mat or thick table cloth, the gap is completely invisible. Here again taste comes into play and I have to say that I prefer the shape of the Stubby Cup to that of its full size brother.
Don Alan Stubby Aluminum/Bronze Chop Cup
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby007.jpgDon Alan Stubby Copper/Bronze Chop Cup
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby005.jpgDon Alan Stubby Chop Cup Exterior
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby011.jpgDon Alan Stubby Chop Cup Interior
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby013.jpgDon Alan Chop Cups Final Loads
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby008.jpghttp://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby010.jpghttp://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/DonAlanChopCupsFS-Stubby009.jpgAll in all each of the Dons are fantastic Cups and I could recommend each of them. To this I would add, go for the heavier copper versions. Looking at the new RNT2 website, I see that they no longer offer the Stubby versions, however there are several versions of the Full Size Don. I hope as the new owner gets things going and that we will see the Stubby Don Alan Chop Cup offered again and if so with liners. Not that I have ever been questioned as to what the purpose of these Cups are, but when I look at copper or aluminum cups in retail stores, the closest cups that I find are cups made for the bathroom, these cups mostly have a liner.
As always thanks for reading and I encourage and welcome any questions and comments!
Thanks,
Bruce
Cupscon
