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Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
I'm on the fence too. He has some good ideas, but I still have the lingering thought that it's a "magician's only" solution. In my opinion, I should never have to show the shells in that fashion or explain how the "dip" doesn't work on these shells or how the pea stays in, unlike the "other" shells. There are standard techniques that show the pea staying in the shell without having to reinvent history by remaking the shells. They should never know that those techniques even exist.
I think he explains it best with his last line "As a magician..." If he thinks like a con man these design changes wouldn't be necessary. To me, if it's played like it should, as a gambling game (con game if you like) there should be no "magic" to it. It's a swindle, plain and simple and you either play it as such or you weave it into a "lesson in losing" but it should never be confused with "magic" and you should NEVER explain the props in this fashion.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
Yes, You a are right these shells were designed for the magician. They can be used with the con-man routine and presented in any manner that fits them and I know there are many that like the old way. But I believe there are also many magician that would like to go beyond the old shell game without all the clues and rules. I can remember as a young kid the first time I seen the 3 shell game. I loved it!
But I was able to figure it out as a kid, not that I was any smarter. It only takes common sense. The ones that lose money playing the 3 shell game are the ones with litte common sense. I am not saying these shells are for everyone and everyone should use what they are comfortable with to present the game right. I hope you didn't misunderstand me, as I am not saying my way is the way. I am just sharing some new ways that I have found that has worked better for me and if so,maybe some others.
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
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benhart New user 65 Posts |
I said on my last post that I would tell you all how I liked the new bottom ridge shells when I received them. Well I am still playing with them and the more I play with them the more I like them. Excited that I am thinking up new ways to build a routine that is different from everyone else. I have bought most of the shells on the market and some I prefer better than others, but they all do the same thing. Not these shells, they are in a whole different ball game. Even the peas that are a rubber metal blend work with a magnet very well. I like the fact that I don’t have to have special peas, as they cost more and I always lose them with the magnet inside the pea. It nice that the standard pea can do it all. I never liked switching out to a hard pea for the spectator to examine. Quality wise they are hands down the best set of shells I ever bought. Excited about being able to play the shell game in a new fresh way. I can see these shells were designed by a magician, for me that is what I wanted
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
The Bottom Ridge Shells has been reworked to have a smaller ridge that now have all rounded edges to look and function better.
Also for the ones that like the standard type shell, we will now offer the new True Walnut Shells. The True Walnut Shell molds where made from a real walnut shell from the inside and out. These shells work like the standard shells without the bottom ridge.
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
You can view these shells at http://www.3shells.com
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
Benhart,
Thank you,I am very glad you like them. I found that if you round all the edges like we are doing now they look and work better. Use a fine grit. If you ever do a video on your routine, I would love to see it. Glad you're having fun!
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
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mota Inner circle 1658 Posts |
Very curious about these. The bottle cap shells seem to have "bottle cap shells" printed on them. Is this true? If so, it seems to scream gaff.
Check out some of the top and ball workers on youtube...here is the well-known gambling sam video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4uBJEHLH3o Make your bottle caps the right size and look and you might have something special...right now they appear to scream magic trick. The rest of the products I will wait a bit for and see how things develop. Like I said, I am very curious. You have clearly worked very hard on these and it shows. |
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mota Inner circle 1658 Posts |
OK...looked a bit more. The bottle cap size is good...I thought them too large but I've seen people work with tops this size. This size is common in the Walmart parking lot workers.
I still have a question about appearance. Can the bottle tops be made so they look like something that came off a large soda bottle or cheap booze bottle (just a bottle twist off-cap)? All it might take is just not print on the top of the cap. Then make them in plastic yellow or something (but as they are, without printing, might still look fine). |
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
Yes, Mota
The top has a vinyl sticker that peels right off. They were designed so you didn't have to have any printing or you could add your own printed sticker. The size works very well being more visual and handle way better then small bottle caps. I thing most people would take the stickers off. I will post this on the website about the sticker. I just forgot to add that point, as it is an important point. Thank you
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
Mota,
I will post a picture on the site without the stickers on the bottle caps shells. View them at http://www.3shells.com a little later.
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
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mota Inner circle 1658 Posts |
Thank you.
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mota Inner circle 1658 Posts |
OK...without the stickers those look GREAT! Thank you for the new pics.
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Richard Doyle Regular user Maryland 125 Posts |
Anyone else have a review of these shells?
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mota Inner circle 1658 Posts |
There has been much added to the web site. Take a look at those Indian Cups! The imagination is working hard on this. I don't know about you guys but as far as cups and balls go I have always been very attracted to Indian Cups. Of course these would be great for any shell game but thinking of this particular set within the context of a classic cup and ball routine is really quite interesting.
Just thinking out loud...it is rare that something new happens in the shell game and it is a bit exciting. Any more feedback from those who got a set of any of these shells already? |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I got a set of the Bottom Ridge Shells a couple of days ago, and will post a review here when I have had a chance to really work with them. I don't think the big rim is really a problem.
You need to bear in mind that this is NOT for a gambling presentation. It's for the shell game as a magic routine. However, the new grip that Al teaches you is very useful for the shell game, because it provides more security, especially if you are using heavy shells. There's a lot of good material in the teaching presentation. The new grip works with ALL shells, by the way.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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benhart New user 65 Posts |
In another post I gave a review on how good the new walnut bottom ridge shells are. But I also bought the comical monkey shells and had a chance to use them for a kid’s birthday party. The kids went NUTS! They loved being able to feed the monkey the peanut through his mouth and ended with the smiley face loads that brought a lot of fun. They did not want me to stop. This went over better than any of my other tricks for the kid’s even the mother was excited in playing the game. If you do kid parties the kids will love these bright yellow monkey shells.
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jazzy snazzy Inner circle run off by a mob of Villagers wielding 2109 Posts |
Some really nice looking designs there.
I'm trying to get my head around a radically different routine but the look of these sets would easily fit my character.
"The secret of life is to look good from a distance."
-Charles Schulz |
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
I think some have forgotten what a real walnut is like before the inside and edges are smoothed out. A real walnut does have a bottom ridge to hold a nut in the shell. Take a look at this link that will compare shells to a real walnut.
http://www.3shells.com/compare-shells.html
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
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shellgame-al Veteran user Arizona, USA 352 Posts |
I just put up on http://www.3shells.com/3-shell-game.html a new designed large bottle cap shells that brings some real cool features. They are called “Flash Caps” They are called that because they feature controlled flashing of the pea without any lifting of the caps.
There is a beveled hole on the top side of the cap that looks like a hole for a straw to go in. The player can even put the pea in the cap of their choice. Having the bottom ridge design bottom that will keeps the pea inside the cap and the hole to see through makes it work as a controlled pea flashing cap. The pea can be loaded from top or bottom of cap. This cap is very deceitful, but looks to be very fair. This cap can bring more features than any shell ever made! Also new is the “Stinger Caps” without the pea flash hole. Both new sets come in Black, Red or Yellow.
Manufacture of 3 Shell Game Sets & 3 Disk Monte Sets
3shells.com and magicswindles.com |
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
After having played around with these a bit, I can offer the following comments:
1) From the top, the shells look like a normal shell. Yes, they do have the larger rim. If the only aspect of this that bothers you is the size of the rim, you have two alternatives. You can either not purchase the shells or you can alter the size of the rim. 2) Al's grip on the shells is different from the one that has been taught since Jack Chanin and Tom Osborne wrote the first complete treatises on how to do the shell game. If you have ever worked with heavy shells, such as the solid silver shells from S4S, you know that they take a lot of getting used to. Heavy shells are very easy to lose your grip on. Al's grip makes this type of shell much more viable. 3) If you are of the opinion that the shell game is a "religion" and should not be presented as a magic trick, but as a con game, that's fine. You are entitled to your opinion. There is a place in the shell game for all different kinds of presentations. Do the one you like. Don't tell anyone else that they can't or shouldn't do the shell game the way they want to. You do it the way you like. Summary: The Bottom Ridge Shells do exactly what they are supposed to do. Al has held nothing back. He has provided us with new tools. You can use them or not. Some people think that a Shopsmith is the greatest tool that was ever built. Others prefer to have a dozen or so separate tools to do the same jobs. Choose what you want.
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
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