Hello:

I just bought the Fun. Inc. 6-foot "Rabbit in the Hat" silk, and it is every bit as good as the original SKS version. It seems to be 6 momme. Colors are very vivid - I am so tickled with this! The only thing missing is the SKS logo in the corner.

I love all my Rice/SKS silks (and I have plenty of 'em), and my P&A Blendo is awesome, especially considering the price I paid. I've heard recently that P&A (Peter White) isn't answering the phone (disconnected) and no more emails or website updates. This may be due to a stroke...I don't know for sure, but have heard/read that recently. Anybody confirm/deny this?

Steve Thomas

Steve,

He didn't have a stroke, but he did have a flare-up of Lyme disease. As I understand it, he's okay, but I don't know why his phone has been disconnected and his e-mail gets "bounced". I have been trying to find out how to get in touch with him (see post further down), but so far I haven't had any luck.

We used to talk a couple of times a year, but not lately. If anyone knows how to get in touch with him, I would appreciate the information.

Amos McCormick

The Fun Inc. Rice repros are probably closer to a 5 momme. They are pretty transparent especially the 36' silks.

However, the price is right and if you back the silk up as I have done with another black 8 momme silk, it should hold up pretty good. I would reinforce the upper edge at least where you would always grab it to pull it out and display. A peice of ribbon on each side sandwiching the silk between would work. Also add a couple of loops or buttons ( different sizes for colors for right and left hands) to pull it out with.

I had to repair a Giant Rice silk flag that had literally had the weave pulled out of it by use. I had to try to match the dye color and even draw in a star to fix it. Believe, prevention is much better than repair.

I have also made suitable dragon zombie foulards using the Fun Inc. dragon by repainting the border and backing it up with a black silk.

There are still some original Rice silks available. Harold Rice's daughter Ruth can be reached here on The Magic Café. She is also one of the people who make the Magic Café financially possible.

Her name here on The Magic Café is Rice.

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/bb_pr......ser=2860

http://www.silkkingmagic.com

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

Richard Hughes does great designer silk work . . . He made me some great Aladin silks recently, and Bob Sanders sells very high quality silks and silk trick props and for a great price. I bought Sanders' 20th Century silks very recently and was thrilled that his come with the silks sewn together, rather than making you prepare each time by refolding. Some excellent silk sellers on this very thread wary of excessive self-promotion, it seems. But I'll be glad to do it for them. Sanders in particular offers excellent quality for an unbeatable price. Ask him for his price list.

Thanks.

Richard

In my collection I think I have one of everyone's type and would rank them rather than staying with one supplier.

For Custom work - and actually getting it on time -- Richard Hughes has earned a reputation for being an honest broker with great product.

P&A often has had difficulty making deadlines on specials. I have a complete set of VHS tapes Peter made some years ago on silk folding, tricks, effects and care-- and while the production values were miserable the information is some of the best ever recorded outside the Rice Encyclopedia. For work from their stock line (current) I have found P&A to be a superior brand of workhorse standing up to the rigors of multiple performances without fading, catches, rips or tears. The luxury of the heavier but still compressible silk just (to me) feels more professional and seems to hang better in light. Their props for silk use (Mirror tube for 6 footers, astro production, and huge brass genii tube are prized parts of my collection. Very expensive and worth every penny!

I have also acquired a number of both new and old SKS pieces and for stock magic effects they have no peer. Many of their older patterns are coming (deservedly) back into vogue and are affordable....but, to me are too widely available to allow me to be unique in my markets.

Some years ago I visited Mark Trimble at his studio -- and acquired a wonderful custom 30" dragon silk I value because it is unique. Trimble had specialized in gimmicked silk (packaged) tricks and showed me how much work was involved. If he has quit -- I can understand why, but I found his package stuff easy to use right out of the box. It was lighter than the P&A but works well for parlor gigs.

Lauglin's silks for economy can be good -- but I did not find them sturdy enough for regular 2 a night performance. His instructional videos are good though.

Thanks Greg.

Richard

Todd,

I'm sorry for the delay. This post escaped me until now. I certainly agree. Richard Hughes is indeed an artist.

Thank you for the kind words about my products too. We try hard to keep the products up to the standards you pros demand as in the case of our 20th Century Silks with all three silks can be shown as square and are made to help avoid confusing top and bottom so there is no accidentally dumping of a load. (They are also available in 24" silks!)


Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander