Anyone notices that the quality of Mikame has dropped over the years.....I notice that his product now are mostly NOT lacquered.......cutting the process short....I own many of his products, past & present.

e.g the magic trick & table in the past is lacquered, now the same item is only wood finish which is not nice...e.g his magic wand too.....the past & present quality is so huge...only a few product same as in the past..lacquered...

Correct me if I am wrong ...not sure if the same product distribute to Japan & USA is a little difference...cos when I take from Japan..is very nicely made & lacquered & made perfectly...whereas the same item from USA.... the process cutting short, not lacquered & size made a little out(is still packed & stampunder Mikame name...not much QC check?

Can anyone feedback?

Previously, Mikame never sold thru Murphy Magic a wholesaler/Jobber, usually only certain dealers. I believe this is his way of mass marketing his items and keep the price at a level that will move his merchandise. When the price has to be cut 3 ways instead of 2 some cost cuts have to be made if the merchandise wants to be sold.

I am surprised also at the not so attractive props currently. Natural finish does not look that attractive when on a stage or at a distance. That is only my opinion.

I you have ever built any props you will realize the big expense is in finishing the product with paint and stencil design.

This is only my thinking on the subject.

Yup, I agree lacquered or smooth finish is so much nicer than his recent speedy Natural finish...guess I will sell away the natural props & get from Japan directly, thanks Wnhegbil

The quality probably is drooping because the BIG Quantities of products he is making now. He is making magic per mass and he need to be quick no excellent. He is also releasing many many many products at this time!
Only my opinion,
Hansel!

Koji from UGM will feedback to Mikame cos the Pirate Box is made wrongly..I belive the stock in USA..as well as Japan, cos the 3 gaps is rather big on the side of the door..cos audience may think we squeeze the item through the gap.

UGM check their stocks on this item, they could not sell me cos they also notice the problem on the gap. The should be made very close to the edge.

Just hope Mikame will improve on the quliaty & QC before selling.

I bought a Mikame Craft Jap Hank Box recently in Japan from Magic Funtasia Shop in Tokyo. The quality is excellent!

I personally still prefer the old time Mikame Props, there is a special touch about it that makes it a real collectors item.

I recently bought a mikame production chest and when I opened the package,the prop just falls apart!! This is not the first time it happened to me with a mikame prop.I hope they stepped up their quality or else they will lost a lot of customers

Anyone seen their Chinese sticks? apparently I carry them via mms but I've not coughed up the dough to check them out.

I haven't really noticed a drop in quality. They have been making natural finish wood products for at least 30 years. Maybe there are some knockoffs circulating here.

I have also seen a number of items that were apparently made for certain dealers only that did not bear the Mikame label but were definitely their work.

I have also found that their quality has varied from excellent to poor. At first I loved their coin holders but found the retaining pads quickly wore out. Trying to find the exact size replacement pads has been a pain. For the price that you pay it should come with a dozen replacement pads and more should be available for purchase.

I was thinking about getting a Mikame Drawing Card Case or the Changing Card Case. What would the quality be on those? My only experience with Mikame recently has been Dream Tunnel and Rattle Boxe. While just cardboard, they work fine and hold up well.
If anyone has purchased either card case above, I'd like to hear what you think of them as far as the quality is concerned.
Thanks-

I have their chinese sticks, I like them a lot. Very well made.
They are just a tad bit light, as in not as heavy as the old Mak version I have.

I am happy with them.

For me, the judge of a prop's quality is whether or not I feel comfortable using it in my regular shows. This means that it has to be durable, stay looking nice, and remain otherwise reliable.

I'm hyper-obsessive about preventing problems in my act before they happen. I'm demanding on my props, but I also take immaculate care of them.

I want my props to serve me. I am not a slave to my props.

With all that in mind... I'll say that although I have purchased numerous Mikame pieces, not a single one of them has made its way into my act.

I'm sure many of them make fine collectors pieces, and frankly there's nothing wrong with that. They just don't suitably fill my needs.

I have 3 sets of Chinese Sticks and the gmks rattle around inside.

I have many mikame pieces. I think that quality is very good for the amount of different kinds they are making. Each piece I have is without flaws (except money printer, which came without the ribbon roller . And the prices are good too. I don´t think that prop has to be heavily laquered to look nice.

As I wrote, I got the Mikame money printer without the black band. So I have bought the material by myself and I am going to attach it to the rollers. But I don't know how long it should be. Would somebody who have the printer unroll it and mesure please? That would be great.

Many thanks!

I have a Mikame pom -pom, and a Mikame prediction frame. I received my first prediction board only to find a warped door and 2 missing magnets .ON further inspection I found the magnets inside the box. When I examined the piece ( I am a cabinetmaker/woodworker ) I was let down as it did not live up to the hype. I told the dealer ,he was at Murphy's sent me another that was worse. I took the first one and had a fellow cabinetmaker help repair the warped door and we re glued the magnets.Also the second one (I returned ) was all "oak" the one I did keep is part oak the sides are a different soft wood. The gimmick for my pom pom came apart after using just 1 time.Sorry but that is my Mikame experience.Now I also Have what looks like a Mikame die box it is about 20 years old not sure if it is but that is fit and finished flawlessly.