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skyfire Regular user 136 Posts |
OK, I know I will make some people not happy with this posting. I am sure there are a lot of happy and devoted people out there with Owens Products, after all they have been around for a long time. I myself had saved up enough money, and eventually ordered a set of 12” Rings.
I had an old set of 13” Proline I was happy with, but I heard rave reviews about the Owens, heard that they rang like a bell, and they were four times the cost of Prolines, so they had to be GREAT. Unfortunately with no Brick and Mortar store, or an acquaintance that had a set, I was not able to try a set of Owens out. I sure would have liked to at least seen a video like the one I am posting before making my purchase. So anyways the day came that Owens purchase were finally delivered, I opened the package, and performed a couple of moves, and couldn’t wait to hear their sound. Very quickly I thought, “What the heck”? Where’s that ring I was expecting? During a normal routine it was just, clunk, clunk, clunk. So I thought, I know, I’ll call Owens and ask if they changed something up with the manufacturing of their Rings, either a different metal, thickness, anything to make the sound different than what I had heard about. I talked to a girl, and explained the situation, and then my question. She said she was going to ask someone, and then came back and said, “They still make them the way they always have”. I said mine make a terrible sound when performing and she gave a short little laugh, and said, “No, those are how all their Rings are made”. A week later another phone call, same results. My purchase was a while ago, but it’s just one of those things that has left a bad feeling inside, I had always thought of posting this Post but didn’t, but finally I just had to. I know it’s a combination of the amount of money I spent, what I felt was terrible customer service, and in my mind I got taken by a brand name. Honestly, I have never performed a single routine with these because after performing with the Prolines, it was kind of embarrassing for me to use these Owens. The Rings have literally sat in a five drawer cabinet I have since about a week after they were delivered. Honestly, it may also just be my style that these Rings are not good with. I do occasionally as I am talking, or segwaying into another move will gently hit two rings together and let the chiming ring, ring away in the background, and then let the sound fade away. Cannot do that with my Owens, instead as I am talking you can hear clunk, clunk, clunk as back ground noise. So with that said, here is a question for anyone that has familiarity with both brands, and even others. Do all Owens sound like this? Or is this actually a good sound, and because I was already used to the sound of Prolines, that when I actually heard what my Owens sounded like, they just didn’t match up to my expectations? Or did I just get a bad set? (I am attaching a link to a video) (Go ahead and bash my opinion if you like, because in a weird way, if I know it’s just me, and not the Rings, then maybe I won’t feel as bad spending all that money on good rings, even if they don’t fit my style). Thank You https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3Rlh9R3X18&t=2s . |
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Leo H Inner circle 1333 Posts |
I also agree that the Prolines do have a musical ring, almost like wind chimes. Are Proline rings still available?
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skyfire Regular user 136 Posts |
Not sure, but I hope they are because I want to complete one of my sets up to all 8 Rings, and actually get another set, different size. They handle great, great weight, thickness, and seamless.
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TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Aren't Owens solid stainless and Proline are hollow aluminum??
I've owned both and I'm pretty sure I remember the owens not ringing. But they were far heavier and more solid feeling. If sound is why you buy your rings, go with ProLine.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
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Leo H Inner circle 1333 Posts |
Hi Frank--Owen no longer sells solid steel rings in 10 or 12 inch sizes. Those two sizes are now hollow, and it's been like that for something like ten years now.
I contacted Proline to see if they are still manufacturing their rings. No answer yet. |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
That has been many complaints, Proline will not answer emails, and whether you ever get your product is in question as well. I suggest you search the Café and read the comments, and all the trouble people have had or having with Proline.
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skyfire Regular user 136 Posts |
Unfortunately I have not seen much activity online from Proline in recent months either. I do know the name has been in business manufacturing fine Magic Props since 1894, but maybe they finally closed the doors, and retired from the business. I do know that Cliff always made to order, not to stock so it would take a little longer, but he had great customer service, and always answered my E-Mails, so that doesn't sound promising if E-Mails are going unanswered.
That's too bad, I would have liked to have ordered at least one more set, different size. |
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Leo H Inner circle 1333 Posts |
That's not good if Proline went out of business. Their website is still up with just two products listed: Linking Rings and the Vanishing Dove Cage.
Thanks for the update Bill! |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
There is a forum post by him about his linking rings here on the café, when people were expecting he would answer questions about his product. He never returned to answer any of them. They were not negative questions either, just about quality and such.
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Leo H Inner circle 1333 Posts |
Thanks Bill for the updates. The news on Proline keeps getting worse.
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arios0 New user Lexington, KY 84 Posts |
I ordered from Proline 2 years ago. I never received my rings. I suggest you avoid ordering from him.
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Leo H Inner circle 1333 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 3, 2017, arios0 wrote: Sorry to have to read about this my friend. The writing was already on the wall and I've moved on. |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Skyfire, if you don't like your Owen's, my birthday is next week, you can send them to me.
Metals including Stainless Steel is made up of different mixtures of metal. Over the years these metal suppliers don't always say if anything has changed in manufacture of the steel. |
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skyfire Regular user 136 Posts |
LOL, Bill, the Rings are in the mail.
It's not that the Owens are bad Rings, in fact most people will tell you their the best. But I did list the three things about the sale that didn't agree with me, and how they did not fit my particular routine as much as another brand at a fraction of the price. But today, I did look into another person that is working with a well known Prop Manufacturer, and he is making Rings out of the same material as Proline was. He sells on the Stevens web site and his own. I sent him two E-Mails, and both were answered within hours. So that tells me his business is alive and well. And Happy Birthday Bill... :) . |
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Walking Bob Elite user 499 Posts |
I agree with the above post. I purchased new a set of 12 inch Owen rings and they definitely do not ring like church bells. I have a set of redefine rings that were much cheaper,
they look exactly like Owen rings, and they ring about the same. I do have a 10 inch set of I think the correct name is Orb Eternal. They are solid and ring like church bells, far far better than my Owen. My opinion is for the money Owen rings are vastly over rated. Maybe the older sets are better, I think my set is about 10 years old. Have a nice day, Walking Bob in Iowa |
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Walking Bob Elite user 499 Posts |
I just watched the above video and was pretty impressed in the ringing of the Proline Rings.
Have a nice day, Walking Bob in Iowa |
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thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
Thanks for this topic and the great comparison video. I actually don't need the rings to "ring" as much as I want them to sound solid. However what I noticed from the video is that the Owens rings don't look any better. Is it just the larger rings that come from Owen that have the sparkle to them?
Does anyone know which rings Rick Thomas uses? I've always assumed Owen. They are huge.. 15" I'm guessing and they really sparkle in the lights on stage. And of course the Pro-Line's do sound way better. No comparison. |
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algebraic Inner circle 1008 Posts |
Don't order from Proline.
I keep getting told I'll be receiving my order in two weeks. Meanwhile, it's been a year and a half since I placed my order. |
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thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 10, 2017, algebraic wrote: Wow.. Really? That's a shame. I was wanting to order some Pro-line rings but with 2 bad exoeriences listed here that makes me nervous. |
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Leo H Inner circle 1333 Posts |
The Proline rings do seem to have a much more musical ring than the Owens, but I prefer to purchase my rings from Owen. You see, it is better to receive rings in the mail that don't ring so good, than to pay for superior sounding rings and receive...NOTHING.
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