Does anyone have anything to report about the ProLine Locking Linking Rings:
http://www.tilfordillusions.com/proRings.html

The ad is very impressive and the price is amazing for such huge heavy rings with a locking key. Over 13" and 3/8" thick! Ring like a bell!
Anyone have a set?

NOt seen 'em, but at the price my guess they are maybe from offshore. China? India? (That doesn't mean they are not good).

Pete,
ProLine is a well known company that I think is US. All the other things they make look fabulous and really well made. Their other products are not so inexpensive, in fact many are pretty pricey. I looked at their Duck Bucket and it's a gorgeous harwood one with nice metal fittings and handle, but they want $800 for the bucket and $3,500 for the Bucket and Duck vanish.
http://www.tilfordillusions.com/darcyODuckVanish.html

Can anyone else report on ProLine and their quality?

Pete,
ProLine is a well known company that I think is US. All the other things they make look fabulous and really well made. Their other products are not so inexpensive, in fact many are pretty pricey. I looked at their Duck Bucket and it's a gorgeous harwood one with nice metal fittings and handle, but they want $800 for the bucket and $3,500 for the Bucket and Duck vanish.
http://www.tilfordillusions.com/darcyODuckVanish.html

Can anyone else report on ProLine and their quality?

Just received an E-Mail from Clifford Wiggs of ProLine. He is indeed a US company and makes everything by hand at his studio. As it says on his web site: "PROline Magic is a "one man show". Everything showcased here is designed, built, and tested by me. This ensures the highest in quality control."

I love all that I've seen of Pro Line and will soon be placing my order for one or more of his great props. http://www.proline-magic.com/

Christopher,

If you look at the ad again that you supplied the link to, you will see that this is for the $250 standard key ring set. It is a nice set (I have one). The ad says that "a locking key will be available soon."

Bob Phillips

The only down sides are that, for the price, I wish that this set would have come with a cloth storage bag. They came, wrapped in paper, in a cardboard box. Also, the key "gimmick" was a little small for my taste, but that was easily fixed (this latter is just a matter of personal taste, as I have been performing the rings for several years). Other than that, the rings are great.

Bob Phillips

Bob,
Cloth bags are such a personal taste and an added exoense, so I can see why thatwould not be included. Hopefully you can design your own and have I made up locally at a reasonable price. A big enough peice of velvet would be less than $10 and you can hem a channel that colored magician's rope goes thru at the top to close it. That's what I did with my last set and would plan to do with this one.

You are right on the price, Cliff advised me that the locking key is ready but that the set is $300. Still a good price for such beautifully made rings. I've received a few E-Mails from Cliff of Pro Line, and he is indeed a one-man-shop where everyting is hand made with a sharp eye on the quality. I have every confidence that they will be amazing. I have only to decide if to order them now or wait a month or two as I have several other purchases I'm looking at and I don't like to make too many major acquisistions in a month, especially without time to practice more than one routine at a time. That's the way too many purchases have sat on the shelf never to be added to the show yet. I'm trying to be more careful now, as I'm sure you'll agree.

It sounds like you are really happy with your set though. Who's routine do you use, or did you create your own? Do you use all 8, as I used to do the Lewis routine and I think I only used 6. I'm not sure if I should just star with a 3 ring routine that seems to be so popular of late, as I'm sure Pro Line would sell me exra rings as needed.

I basically do the Vernon three ring routine, with some ideas thrown in from the Richard Ross book. I am also wanting to work on the Whit Haydn comedy four ring routine, as there are certain venues that I will work in where that would fit perfectly. I bought the ProLine set for the latter routine. I have a three ring set (hollow stainless steel with a bayonet locking key) that I have used for years. I love the bayonet lock, as it is easy to open "naturally", and stays locked until you are ready to open it. I have preferred this to the magnetic variety. I bought these around 15 to 18 years ago from Stevens Magic, and they aren't being made any more.

Bob Phillips

Bob,

Do you know what type of locking key ring Pro Line makes?
I like the sound of your3 ring routine. Does it use a volunteer?
What rings would you use for a 4 ring routine? Where can I find out about that routine, so I can consider it?

Thanks for informing us that ProLine is a USA custom maker.

Although I have several sets of rings, with and without locking keys, I've never heard of a "bayonet" locking key. Is there somewhere that I could see a photo of it?

I've never used aluminum rings but have heard, and it makes sense to me, that they just don't have the sound of stainless steel.

Hollow aluminum sounds dull and dead. I use solid aluminum, the same material used in musical windchimes, and the difference is astounding. Joe Stevens was very skeptical until he called to refute my claims and I let him hear my rings. I made a beleiver out of him. Most agreee it sounds better than hollow stainless.

Cliff Wiggs
PROline Magic

The sound is good. I got my eight ring ProLine from Joe Stevens (Stevens Magic Emporium).

Bob Phillips

I was skeptical myself. If you have heard the sound of aluminum cups, you know what I am talking about. See my previous posting.

Bob Phillips

What is the locking ring like? I'm thinking of getting a locking ring to add to my set.

I'm very happy with the rings. I used a saw to change the gimmick and the aluminum was easy to cut.

I was able to widen my "key" by gently pulling on both sides without any problem. I hope that the sawing worked for you...I didn't want to go with that much "emphasis", particularly given the price of the rings.

Bob Phillips

It's a very small matter, but sawing the gap keeps the ring round. No one notices, but I like it.

I received a note from Cliff answering my question about the locking ring. It is magnetic and doesn't lock in the way that some do (examinable by spectators), but it is viewable to allow an open handed display of the key.

Customer service has been top-notch.

Wow. The rings are far better than I expected and the magnetic key works perfectly and easily.

The ringing quality sound better than my Owen Rings.

I will be ordering more of these in the near future. Very very pleased.
Customer service was a treat as well.

Frank