talkmagic.co.uk

Just noticed that waddingtons are doing a weekly free deck of cards giveaway; just sign up on their website for the chance to win.

http://www.mynumber1.co.uk/index.asp

Thought it's worth trying for.

edit: PS: anyone know of any source for waddington or waddington-like special decks? I'd love a svengali or ID in bridge sized with non-fancy looking back designs like waddys have (I could make it myself I guess...)

You could make an ID very easily and cheaply. It would cost a fair bit to make a Svengali deck. You'd have to buy quite a few decks to start off with, and then there's some accurate work to be done...

user24 wrote:edit: PS: anyone know of any source for waddington or waddington-like special decks? I'd love a svengali or ID in bridge sized with non-fancy looking back designs like waddys have (I could make it myself I guess...)

Piatnik. Card Collection do them.

Barry

magicofthemind wrote:
Piatnik. Card Collection do them.

Barry

Thanks for the tip, checking out the reviews now

What has happened to Waddington's cards? When I visited the UK recently I got all excited that I would be able to purchase a whole ton of them because they were always my favourite cards. However I found to my dismay and puzzlement that magicians are all now using American cards. I was told that you couldn't get Waddingtons cards anywhere now except W. H. Smiths and the quality had disappeared.

I went to W. H. Smiths because indeed I couldn't find them anywhere else whereas in the old days you would get them everywhere. When I purchased them they seemed to be just as good as they ever were. However, I was quite dismayed that after about 3 weeks or so they were not very usable. The quality had indeed gone down. It is almost as if they had removed some ingredient or other to save on costs.

I consider this to be the end of civlisation and a sign of the dissolution of the British Empire.

This site comes up on search engines and if Waddingtons see this they should do something about it. At one time every magician in the UK used Waddingtons cards. Now nobody does. The quality of the decks is mediocre. It can't be good for their profits and this post will probably reduce them further.

Serves them right for lowering the quality without consulting me first.

I haven't noticed a quality issue (but maybe that's because usually I use Fournier cards instead of Waddingtons). You can still buy Waddingtons from lots of places, though. Usually newsagents and stationery shops have them.

I've noticed that Waddingtons has put out a posher-looking version recently(?). Or maybe I'm thinking of the poker deck they do now.

The UK usage is probably down to the fact there are few if any gaff decks for waddingtons.

I'll be honest and say I've not bought a pack of waddingtons in the last decade or so and I doubt if I will break that habit!

Alec

I'm stuck for cards at the moment-I just think that bicycle cards are to expensive to fold,tear,sign and generally destroy, but cant find any cheaper alternatives?

Most supermarkets sell their own super-cheap cards. Ideal for tearing up etc.

International Magic used to sell trick cards from Waddingtons. I think they had an arrangement for them to be manufactured for International. DF, Twin Faced, Double Backed-the works. In fact I have a ton of them here in Canada with me now. They must be from about 40 years ago or so. It is a wonder they haven't gone mouldy by now. Some are still in their cellophane wrapper and haven't been opened in 40 years.

Not that they would be any bloody good anyway with Waddingtons cards now since they have only single indexes whereas all Waddingtons cards have that bloody stupid 4 index thing. That should give you an indication of how old the fake cards that I have are.

spooneythegoon wrote:I'm stuck for cards at the moment-I just think that bicycle cards are to expensive to fold,tear,sign and generally destroy, but cant find any cheaper alternatives?

How much are you paying for bikes? Two quid a pack isn't that expensive. And if you're buying 12 packs at a time from cards4magic it works out at £1.70 a deck. Or £1.50 each for 12 blue backed.

Not sure how significant this would be but Waddington's now only exists as a brand name, the firm was bought by Hasbro in the early 1990s and I'm told that a lot of production is now done elsewhere on the planet as costs are more important than quality.

I really should enter this competition - its got my name written all over it....

Mark Waddington wrote:I really should enter this competition - its got my name written all over it....

Oh Mark you're such a card......

What a joker