|
|
fccfp Special user NJ 563 Posts |
I have bought from Silk King Studio's before and hope to again in the future. Ruth Rice Crone is very helpful and goes out of her way to help you out. The Art Silks are magnificent and well worth the money.
However, why are Spectrum Silks significantly more expensive than other silks of the same weight, color, and size? I understand that they have a special flat hem and that the colors are very vibrant. I guess I just don't see the added value in terms of audience perception. I mean, when you pull out a silk is the audience going to say, "Gee, that silk isn't as vibrant as it could be"? As a comparison, a yellow 36" inch Spectrum silk is $30. A 36 inch silk from Larock Family Magic (formerly Lauflin Magic) is $12. The Spectrum silk costs two and a half times as much as the Larock Silk. Put another way, for the cost of two Spectrum Silks, you can buy five Larock silks. As Professor Sanders has said, "Silks should be thought of as a consumable". Silks will get dirty or stained, develop runs, and even get holes where they are tied to other props. Is the Spectrum silk really so much stronger that it has a life expectancy five times greater than other silks? I am more than willing to pay for quality. I feel, however, that there should be a reason for doing so. You can by a set of Cups for $30 or $1,000. Chances are, however, you can see what the difference is. You can buy a pocket knife for a couple of bucks at a flea market, or the same pattern and style of knife for $50 from Buck or Case or any of a number of others. For some people, the $5.00 is more than adequate. For folks that know just a bit about tools, and a knife, like a silk, is a tool, the difference in the way the pieces are machined is obvious. The quality of the steel is also readily apparent. What are the differences with the silks? I would really like to understand this. Thanks, Bruce
A.K.A. Jay The Magician
www.jaythemagician.com |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Bruce,
It's because you're worth it. Actually, the greatest difference is that Japanese silk is more expensive than China silk and China silk is more expensive than India silk. When Harold Rice was in the business, Americans were forbidden by law from importing silk from China. Now it is legal to trade with them. He had no choice. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
fccfp Special user NJ 563 Posts |
Bob,
I am PMing you because I don't want anyone mad at me. What I think you are saying is that the Rice Silks are more expensive because Japanese silk cost a lot more than silk from China. It's simply a pass thru of higher costs. My question then becomes: Are they better? How so? Do they hold there weave better? Do they resist fraying? Are they dirt and stain resistant? Unless there is a significant drop in quality of the silk, I see no reason to pay up for a commodity item. We could get into a discussion of flat vs. rolled hems. Again, I am not sure that matters for most applications. Your opinion? Thanks, Bruce
A.K.A. Jay The Magician
www.jaythemagician.com |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-06-30 14:06, fccfp wrote: Hi there - Just to correct a couple of small typos, for readers who are unfamiliar with these names and who might go searching for these names/products on the Internet - It is Lock Family Magic, not Larock Family Magic. And it is Laflin Magic, and spelled Duane Laflin (not spelled Laughlin or Dwayne), and he is still using that business name for in-person sales and for his shows. Lock Family Magic is only the web order and mail order extension of his business, which is now run by Duane's daughter, Rebecca Lock. I'm not trying to embarrass you by pointing out your typos, Bruce, just trying to help others who aren't educated yet about who these people/businesses are. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
|
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Bruce,
You are a tough customer! True Rice Silks are old by necessity. They came from Japan. The art work is better than most. The silk is not better than what is available today. The hems are not as good as are available today. They are probably even easier to stain. Relatively speaking, when inflation is considered, silk is even cheaper today than it was when his were made. (The silk sold until the last twenty years was not better than what is available today, and that includes what I sold, too. Technology changed!) The real reason to buy Rice Silks is for the artwork and the piece of history that is not replaceable today. To fault Harold Rice is kicking dust on one of my heroes. Collecting authentic SKS silks is just smart. I’m not sure I recommend using them. There are few enough left. It’s sort of like melting down ancient gold coins. Why do it? Would you take an Elvis guitar to play at the nearest bar? (And Elvis could not play well! But his guitars are priceless. There are also plenty of better guitars made today. If you have an Elvis guitar, I’ll trade.) It is not a case of nostalgia, but economics based upon pure utility, the solid colored silks from China with the 2mm hems are a better deal. The colors stay better, there are no fillers for temporary stiffness, and the hems don’t compare. Rice had some unusual colors, but many people can custom dye the current China silks for you. They are not ducks and ducks for a fair comparison. Times, technology, and economic opportunities change. I think of Rice Silks as an art collection and solid-colored silks as expendable decks of cards or other magic supplies, actually to be consumed in performing magic shows. It’s a mystery to me why a performer will spend $50 prospecting for a gig, but won’t write “Happy 10th Anniversary“ on a silk with a Sharpie pen to give to a client and seal another booking. The special silk will be kept forever by the receiver. (Your business card alone will be thrown away by the people at the dry cleaners.) As a tough consumer, you know the difference between spending and investing. Are you investing in your show or a magic collection? Those relate to your objectives and not silk quality and prices. There are no trade-offs because the purposes don’t match. You asked a good question. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander PS --- Just for clarity, silk does not improve with age. However, it will last much longer than most things we own. |
Ron Reid Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 2732 Posts |
I will add just a bit to Bob's thorough and excellent post: Silk King Studios still has some items you can't buy anywhere else. For instance, their 20th Century American Flag comes with a flag that has been specially printed so that it can be used for the 20th Century effect.
I prefer using 4 or 5 momme sold-color silk to Rice's 8 momme when using them as production items; I think they have a better flow and certainly compact better. However, I still think their art silks are still the best. I think we'll all be sad the day that Ruth exhausts her supply of silk. Ron |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Ron,
Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad to see you give emphasis to the "flow" of silk. That and the way it treats light make it one of the most beautiful props you can have on stage. There is no question why the artists put so much into them. Fit is everything. Sometimes it's design that is needed and often, it is primarily "flow". Harold Rice was no amateur with silk as a medium. His art silks are art indeed. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
fccfp Special user NJ 563 Posts |
Donald,
Thanks for correcting my errors. I try not to do that, and apologize for anyone who was offended or confused by my mistakes. I appreciate your setting the record straight. Bob & others, In regards to the artwork of the Rice silks, I appreciate the quality and understand the value. I use their 6' rabbit in hat silk as the centerpiece of my backdrop. I also have a 36" rabbit in hat, a 36” butterfly, and a 27" applause please" silk. I treasure them and do use them for special shows. They do not come out for a regular birthday show. The cheaper versions do not have the brilliance of the originals. I agree we will all be that much poorer when the last art silk is gone. However, I guess the answer to my question is to buy the less expensive silks when it comes to plain, single color silks. The truth is, I have not bought a new square silk in quite some time. Everything in the last few years has been a diamond cut silk. They pack smaller and look bigger. B
A.K.A. Jay The Magician
www.jaythemagician.com |
roblane Special user Say 'toast' five times, toast toast..... 844 Posts |
Hi guys,
I'm having no luck in finding anyone who supplies diamond-cut silks in the UK. Can someone point me in the right direction? Regards, Rob
Definition of a Freudian slip; Saying one thing and meaning a "mother"!
|
Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-07-02 16:50, fccfp wrote: I must totally disagree with you on this statement. Rice silks handle better, look better longer, wear better than most, and are a delight to handle during a performance. Expensive, all cost and thing are relevant to each individual person, but having used Rice and many others over the years, they are still the best for a performer that wants to show his best to the client. Yes, I about died one time when I used my Rice Streamer Duke's Dye Version, and the little kids started to play 'Tug-a-War' with the silk streamer. So, yes, for kid shows, use something less expensive or not at all. You never know how inventive a spectator in today's world will become. Is it 'showing off', or just 'no common sense'? Either way, you have a spoiled product that is worth more than you received for the show. That may be a good rule of thumb - use quality products when your fees meet and pay for the replacement of the product. Just a thought! |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Bill,
The strength of silk surprises many. It is 2/3's the strength of steel! For many years, it was used to wrap copper wire for strength. Butterflies have something going! It's not just pretty. I saw some Rice Silks at work on stage at SEAM this week. You don't have to apologize for quality! Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
japanmagic New user 34 Posts |
Hello,
The main difference between the Japan silks and all the other silks is truely the color and quality. Japan silks are known for the "see thru" and light weight value so it can be packed into small places. There are actually many types of Japan silks, depending on where in Japan you get them. At the conventions for many years, Hawaii's Jimmy Yoshida also sold Japan silks, and I will be selling them at the IBM & SAM 2007 national conventions: There are a variety of printed silks from Japan. You may view some at: http://www2.hawaii.edu/%7Ekyschun/balloon/supply.html As far as pricing, it depends on the shipping, customs fees and efforts taken to get the silks. I have been travelling to Japan several times a year because the company I get them from don't do mail orders. Everything is done in cash. Sincerely, KelvinChun.com |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Smooth as silk » » Why are Rice's Spectrum silks so expensive? (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.04 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |