Dennis,

I apologize for getting that wrong. Thank you for clearing it up.

Also, concerning shell work, you could use two shells (see Shimada's work). Also, in my manipulation act I use NO shells.

Stop by Bob Little's convention on June 25th in Bensalem, PA and you can see me perform it.

FC

If the price per set were pre-paid and high enough, even the smallest number of interested parties would make it worthwhile. As long as they were 1 3/4 to 2", I'd be interested. So how low...errr...how high can you go...

It's the machinist's turn.

Randy;
As far I am concerned until the rights issue is resolved, it is not worth making the Durania Balls at any price. I certainly do not need the extra work nor grief attached to making items with rights in question. I'm busy enough as it is.
Jim

Thanks for commenting Jim. With rights issue unresolved and without your craftsmanship in making the Durania Balls, we will be at a loss. Too bad.

You know Bill Palmer has commented and educated us all on importance of copyright, trademark, and patents. Serving not only to protect material but if anything tell the world what belongs to whom! This particularly important and useful when inventors have passed on.

Now that I think about it, I believe Richard Ross got his Durania Shell from Willi Seidl here in Vienna ("here", as in: Im currently on a holiday back home).

And I also think Willi once said he doesn't want to make them anymore, because it's too difficult and expensive.

Any new progress in the last year?

I have heard nothing.

Jim:

I am in correspondence with the rights owner as I write. The rights are not owned by Detlef Hartung as suggested. As soon as I can get something worked out, I will be in touch with you. Would really like to see you manufacture them as your work is par excellent.

I happen to have a complete original set in Near Mint Condition which I may entertain the idea of selling if the offer is good.
This thread is a PERFECT example of how ridiculous the "rights" issue gets after decades of handing off from one person to the next with little if any documentation combined with conflict of the actual originators etc. It just gets worse by the year.
My problem is the "Rights Horders" who buy up, sometimes the "rights" by the truckload, at prices next to nothing or promises never fulfilled, and then sit on them...probably until they die, never opting to sell them to folks who can actually get around to BUILDING/MANUFACTURING the effects. If they chose to sell a few of the "rights", this would allow magic to GROW rather than stifle the art.
Well, there is my vent for the day and I really hope Jim can cut through all this and finally get these back on market if the demand justifies the run.
Chance

Hope everything works out well. I am waiting for the Durania balls to hit the market...

My friend was producing these balls, one piece for 100 US dollars, if you are interested, PM me, I will try to persuade him to make some again

I have two original sets. One was made by Werry in the sixties and the other was manufactured by Manfred Thum. Both from Germany. The price is more than $ 100.- But they are the Originals.

Dudes, I just picked up a set and let me tell you ... they are just fun to play with. When it comes to manipulation, I'm such a purist so I'm not sure if I will ever use these in performance, but man are they fun! I fooled my lady too. That's saying something.

There is an original Werry set of Durania balls currently up for auction HERE