I guess my question should be - has anyone ever experimented with replacing the tassels with other items and if so, how did that work out?

Rick

The Grant sticks are polished brass. I don't remember what the tassels looked like, but I didn't get the feeling that I would want to replace the tassels. Tassels on other sticks look rather cheesy to me.

There are a couple of threads that talked about using other things than tassels. A search should turn them up. One idea was to use a plastic "fishing" hook and the sticks became rods. You could hang a plastic fish on the hook. The key to using something else would be light weight. The sticks won't work if the tassels are too heavy, they won't easily retract.

Jan:

Believe it or not but S.S. Adams probably makes the best cheap version of the Chinese Sticks. They are a good looking prop that is reliable, smooth, silent and cheap.

I recommend the Ping and Pong Chines Sticks as the best new set you can readily get. They work very well.

Here is my Chinese Stick Scrapbook:

http://s474.photobucket.com/albums/rr110......lideshow

I have them all except the 3 or 4 I am looking for, and help would be appreciated.

ACE
Joe(JOJO)Strauch

Is there a video out there with someone doing the Martin Lewis routine?

JOJO - I see that all your work cataloging the sticks is helping others. This is a popular topic.

I think it is the "Making Magic" video by Martin Lewis himself.
Everything on it is good.

ACE

I have this set that Pete Biro makes.. Plummer Sticks are perfect for me because the item is constructed with household plumming theme. Children understand this plot and adults love it too.

see
http://www.stevensmagic.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=1496

Updated collection:
http://s474.photobucket.com/albums/rr110......tart=all
or http://s474.photobucket.com/albums/rr110......lideshow

ACE (the dancing stickman)

I happened to come across Randi Rain's new idea for this classic effect and thought is was quite clever.

http://store.randirain.com/

I don't know if you can get away with doing this for kids though. Randi, if you come across this post I'd love to hear your thoughts on that question.

Thanks Ken for PMing me and letting me know about this.

To answer your question... yes.
They are made so that they could be either realistic or cartoonish.
Matter of fact, I give a funny routine where at the end, when you put the sticks away in your table, they blow up in your face.
It uses no pyro and is safe and funny.

Randi

This new set is quite nice, a set of Chinese sticks crafted by George Millward, scroll down to the second picture to see the decorated ones:

http://www.nnmagic.com/magicitems/stagem......#chinese

(Also note: there is the famous Benson Routine performed at this link!)

ACE

You can't go wrong with Chinese Sticks made by The Great Kovari.

Mike

I have to say I don't trust the Xanadu sticks. Sometimes they work fine, but too often I can point the d##n things straight up in the air and the weights won't descend. It's as if they have a mind of their own. They're maddening and unreliable.

Sorry to say that the $5 plastic Royal sticks I bought back in the 1960s work much more smoothly than the Xanadus.

Mine are loud as hell......

I tried a set of Empire bamboo sticks, at the local magic shop. Man, these are crappy sticks!

George Millward is making sticks again. I just purchased a set with wood veneer.
They look just like Roy Benson's sticks.
They are the finest sets in the world. They are not cheap.
He uses only the best materials and the inner workings use teflon.
They are built to last a lifetime. Contact Denny and Lee Magic Studio if you are interested.
They are selling before they are even made so act fast, you may get lucky.

I absolutely vouch for the Martin Lewis option. I gladly go my hands on the DVD ( waiting for his kind reply on minor details).
Also any suggestions to make the lead traveling less noisy (I do not have access to Teflon)?
thanks