Johnson Products Gold (Brass) Cups and Chop CupIt has been a while since I last wrote a review on Cups. I decided to write one on the Johnson Products Gold Cups and Chop Cup… these are Cups that I have used over the years and maybe some new Cupsters would be interested in them (there seems to be some good deals on them lately on the used market).
The Cups Story:
The Johnson Products Gold 3 Cup set has been around for 10 years or so. I could not find the original receipt for when I purchased them, but if memory serves me right it was around 1998 or 1999. I have done some searching on the internet and some feel that it was 2000 or 2001 when they were first made available. At the time, I remember paying $175.00 for the set, it seems now they are selling for around $350.00 a set. The matching Gold Chop Cup seems to have come out around 2002 or 2003; I think this is right because I remember having the Cup set for 2 years or so before the Chop Cup was made available. I paid $75.00 for the Chop Cup then and like the Cup set it too went up in price now selling for $150.00.
Most of us know Johnson Products for the gimmicked coins that they make, however their primary business is manufacturing items for the aerospace industry. Each of the Gold Cups are made using a process known as CNC (Computer Numerical Controlled) in which a machine is given its instructions digitally and different cutting tools sculpt the Cup from a solid block of brass. Even though the Cups are made by machine there is still a lot of hand work to be done to create the finished product; that being said combined with all the wasted material, going the CNC route is a costly process… maybe more so then a spun Cup.
Many feel that Cups made this way have no spirit or soul to them compared to Cups that are spun. To this I say nonsense… In my opinion they are as nice to handle as any spun Cup and might have more soul; these cups can sing (ring) when struck by a wand better then than any Cup I have heard. Each Cup is milled to be identical to its brothers; each Cup is brilliantly shined… the Chop Cup too; little shiny Cups of perfection.
The Cups:
The Johnson Products Gold Cups are very similar in appearance and size to the Paul Fox Cups; when I emailed Johnson Products regarding their design, they credited input from Mike Careney, Pete Biro and John Carney… whoever was responsible did a fantastic job!
Johnson Product Gold Cup Next To A RNT2 PF Cup
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups007.jpgThe set of Cups as purchased comes with 3 gleaming highly polished brass Cups, a very basic black velvet like bag and a set of 4 small red crochet balls. There are no instructions or routines included. The Cups feel quite heavy to the touch and well balanced. As mentioned above they look very much like a Paul Fox Cup however they have 3 rings and the saddle is cut more sharply into the top (or bottom) of the Cup. There is not really a rim to the Cup, but rather a protrusion with the appearance of a very tight rim on the mouth of the Cup. It should be noted that each cup has a very small JP as a hallmark on the inside bottom of the Cup.
Johnson Products 3 Cup Set
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups001.jpgJohnson Products Gold Cup Saddle
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups009.jpgJohnson Products Gold Cup Saddle Compared To A RNT2 PF Cup
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups010.jpgJohnson Products Gold Cup Rim Compared To A RNT2 PF Cup
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups008.jpgJohnson Products Gold Cup Hallmark
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups003.jpgEach Cup is approximately 3” high and 3” wide, when stacked the Cups stand about 5.5” high. The included balls can sit 3 on top of the Cup (or bottom) at a time and can be completely concealed when stacked.
Johnson Product Gold Cups Sizes
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups014.jpghttp://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups015.jpghttp://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups016.jpgThe Chop Cup like the set of Cups comes with the same, however the ball set is one regular and one gaffed. The size and appearance of the Chop Cup is identical to the 3 Cup set complete with the JP hallmark.
The Johnson Product Cups nest or stack perfectly and when the matching Chop Cup is switched in for a regular Cup, one will have a great set of Combo Cups. I have read that John Mendoza used this setup and that our friend Rannie (The Boss) is quite fond of this kit.
Johnson Products Gold Cup Set With Matching Chop Cup
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups006.jpgLike the Paul Fox Cups, the Johnson Product Cups will contain a lacrosse ball for its final load; the Chop Cup will as well. The illusion of a lacrosse ball looking too large for ever being inside the Cup is very effective.
Johnson Products Gold Cups Displaying Final Load
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups011.jpghttp://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups012.jpgThe Cups in Use:
From day one, the Johnson Products Cups just felt right in my hands, their size and weight just feels comfortable; like an extension of one’s hand. The only quirk being that the set of balls included are in my opinion too small and look a little on the cheesy side, especially for Cups of this caliber, I think that they could come up with a better set of balls. I have since replaced the balls with a set from the Ambitious Card, a set of red Monkey Fist balls… I am quite happy with these.
Johnson Products Balls Compared To The Ambitious Card Monkey Fist Balls
http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups005.jpghttp://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm227/BCSDenver/Cups/JPGoldenCups017.jpgWhen doing the Cup through Cup display, make sure that you have a close-up pad to work on… because of their weight, I have dinged the dining room table more than once. As mentioned in the beginning of this review, the Johnson Products Cups ring beautifully when struck with a wand; the wand I use most is an oak wand with rounded ends.
The Johnson Product Chop Cup feels just like a Cup from the regular set, so much so that once I mix up the Cups and the only way to find the Chop Cup was using a gaffed ball. I have used it as my main Chop Cup for many years; I did have an issue with the Cup… with the balls when I first exchanged the original set for the Monkey Fist balls. The gaffed Monkey Fist ball was gaffed in such a way that even vigorously shaking the Cup would not release the ball. The Ambitious Card quickly sent me another Monkey Fist ball and the replacement worked like a charm.
On its own, I have used the Johnson products Chop Cup as a standalone Chop Cup; meaning I never really use it with the regular Cups to make a combo set (though I have played with this set up). If you have read my other reviews, you will know that I like to perform what is named “The Multiplication Cup” routine. For this you need a goods sized Chop Cup and the Johnson Products Chop Cup meets the requirement. This past year I have replaced the Johnson Chop Cup with a RNT2 Strolling Chop Cup; it is heavier and I really like the look of the RNT2 chop Cup and how one can tweek it to work better to one’s touch.
Final Words:
I sit here looking at all my Cups especially the brass ones and I realize that the Johnson Products Gold Cups are pretty much the only brass set that still gets some use; the others are polished and toyed with but are never really used (even though they are still loved). Again looking over old posts from the Big Green and other on-line sources, it seems the Johnson Product cups are a workers set of Cups used by many pros; I can see why… they are constructed well, feel right and look good. When considering a set of Cups do check them out and handle a set before you cross them off your list; you won’t be sorry.
Cupscon
