Hey everyone, awhile back I started a thread asking about certain cards like Arrco and Aladdin playing cards, and wondering what the hype about those two different deck of cards. So I finally picked up a couple of the Arrco U.S. Regulation and 1001 Aladdin cards to try them out, and I must say I did noticed a difference between the Arrco cards, and my other favorite deck of choice, Bicycle Rider Backs. I also tried the Aladdin cards, and I found them to be WAY too smooth for my liking, and also when someone would sign the card, it always smears. So I decided to not use those for any future performances, but the Arrco deck of cards were some truly amazing cards.

Now I have another question about the insanely expensive and rare to obtain Brown Wynn Casino Cards. Ever since the re-call of the decks, it has been very difficult to find a deck that didn't cost more than $40+ dollars for a new deck. I would really love to obtain a copy and see for myself, but I don't nearly have the money to buy a pack. So can anyone here please tell me if these cards also live up to the hype, or it just something that some magicians prefer over other cards? Do they offer something very unique or is it just subjective like all other decks.

If anyone could please give me a little insight into these cards, and if they are worth spending $40+ dollars on just one deck?

I have heard from collectors that the price of those and Jerry's Nuggets has more to do with availability than quality. They are both high quality decks but not enough to warrant the price. If you are getting into the collecting thing then you would probably want a deck for that reason but if you are more of a card aficionado(ie. like to experiment with different types of cards with the intent of using in your magic or flourishing) then their are higher quality cards on the market for cheaper prices.

I'm just passing on a recommendation given to me, perhaps someone has some more first hand advice.

Thank you very much for the response Eostresh, I'm not so much collecting different decks of cards just for the sake of collecting them, but more like what you just mentioned, to see which type of cards would work better for my style of card magic and flourishing. If you could suggest some great decks of cards that aren't too expensive for me to play around with and see if they would be something I'd prefer to use for my card magic/flourishing, I would greatly appreciate it. So far, I have these deck of cards already in my collection and have been practicing with each of them to see which I like better:

Bicycle 808 Rider Back Deck
Bicycle 125th Anniversary Deck
Bicycle Rider Back Guardian Deck
Bicycle 909 Centurion Edition Deck
Bee Stinger Back Club Special Deck
909 Edition Propaganda Deck
Tally-Ho Fan Back Deck
Tally-Ho Circle Back Deck
Split Spades
Arrco U.S. Regulation Deck
1001 Aladdin Playing Card Deck

Now that I look back at my collection so far, it appears I do have quite a few different type of decks, but if you have any other suggestions, please let me know and I'll see how I can go about to obtain a copy.

From looking at your collection I think you ought to check out the Masters edition decks. It is a thicker stock than most other USPC cards. I'm not sure you would like it but you seem to have every other bike deck so you may as well give them a whirl. I'm still recovering from buying a brick of Fourniers so I havn't bought any new decks since last october...so I can't compare them to the new Bike 125s? Never the less they are worth a look. They look exactly like any other bike deck just handle a little different is all.

Judging by your comments on the Alladins I would NOT recomend the Fourniers. It sounds as if they have a similar finnish. I actually prefer the smooth finish now that I'm used to it so Alladins are the next cards on my list.

The only other recommendation is stay away from USPC all together. Not that they don't make a good card but to be honest I cannot tell the difference in handling between most standard USPC decks. Talley Ho's, Bee, Bikes...The only difference I see is the deck design.

Righteous, thanks for all the helpful insight Eostresh on some other cards to either buy or avoid. I have considered buying the Bicycle Masters when I was really into using Bicycle cards all the time, which is why I have so many different versions of their deck. So I'll buy one of those and see how well the work out. I also saw on Lee Ashers website that he sells his own deck of cards, although for $10.99 a piece they aren't exactly that cheap once you include tax and S/H. I also was considering picking up some of Dan & Dave's Smoke & Mirror Decks when they get back in stock in stock, but from reading reviews about them, I think I might just pass on them.

Although I must say that for the past month or so, the deck of cards that I have really enjoyed the most, are the Arrco U.S. Regulation cards. They don't bend or warp all that easily and can almost be fixed by placing them back in their case over night. Plus I like the the face cards and how they have a sort of old-school look to them.

Anyways, thanks for the help again.

Those were the Fournier cards I was referring to. They are a tough deck to get used to. If you are interested I posted an extensive review on them here.
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=155753

It's quite a glowing review but I was able to get used to the smooth finish pretty quickly. If you already know you don't like a smooth finish card then I am sure you won't like these.

Thank you very much Eostresh for clarifying the type of deck Lee Asher is selling, because if you had not of told me, I would have spent either $25-$40 dollars on the decks, only to find out that they share some similarities to the Aladdin playing cards. So from what you have told me, and also from me doing more research on other decks, I think I can safely say that I am satisfied with the decks that I have so far. The only decks I can see myself purchasing in the future, once they have been made available, are the next edition of the Bee Stinger Back's and also pick up some of the Bicycle Masters you suggested. And if I ever happen to run across another not so expensive, new and unopened Brown Wynn Casino Cards, I'll just put that in the unopened collection of cards I have so far. I just have a feeling that it will probably be a long, long wait for that and I hope I don't have to go spend $45-$60 dollars on a pack sold on Ebay.

Aight, here's the down low...

I bought 3 Brown Wynn decks when T11 was selling em for 5 buck a pop; 2 to keep for posterity (a.k.a when people will pay ridiculous cash for em) and 1 to try out.

Basically - The card stock is EXTREMELY stiff, emphasis on the extremely. The finish is REALLY slippery (not smooth. slippery) when you first get em, but if you play around with em and get your "human juices" all over em, they become more use-able and smooth. The face design looks like garbage. I like jumbo indices, but these just look terrible. The back design is kinda cool. I like the simplicity of em.

Bottom line - not worth the money.

Have you handled the other bee stocks and finishes? I have wondered if those were simply a unique paint job on an aristocrat stock? I know there is a pretty standard Bee grade stock/finish used by a bunch of casinos and always wondered if these were mostly hype. Quite simply, the days when USPCC went out of their way to use different processes and materials to make a card are over. My understanding is that they have about 5 or 6 ways to make a card and everything else is just a fancy paintjob. The word on the inside was that E fought an uphill battle to get USPCC to expiriment with the stocks and finnishes to make the UV500s and the Arcanes.

I have a couple of packs of Bee stock cards. Normal diamond back bees, WPT cards - and the stock is WAY nicer than the wynns. Much smoother and more flexible.

Cool thanks...I tend to like a stiffer stock so maybe I might like them...but weather it's worth the price? Likely not. There are plenty of burly decks around that don't sell for seriously jacked up prices.
Thanks again.

I agree thanks for the help. I had been wondering the same thing for a while now, but the cards were so expensive! I love the Wynn Las Vegas !

Thanks again.

-Jim

.
I am not sure if you are referring to my UV500 recommendation. If so...HALT! I'm starting a new thread on this here.... viewtopic.php?f=10002&t=158710

One important factor to consider is how available these cards are going to be in the next few years. We wouldn't really want to spend hundreds of dollars finding exactly the right deck, use it for a year and then not be able to get it anymore.

So of that list, how many of these decks do you expect will still be available at a respectable price in 5 years? 10?

Strike the Tally-Ho from that list, they aren't being made anymore. Split spades, guardian, centurion, stinger, propaganda are all "special edition" decks and you likely won't find them in a few years. 125th anniversary edition will be the same.

I would keep to the standards. Try out bicycle and bee cards, see which you prefer, and just use that. You're pretty much guaranteed to be able to get those at low prices for a long time.

Now you can get to the real important part, practicing.

Actually....Tally Hos will continue to be produced. In fact, the first run of Tallys from the Erlanger plant just recently hit the market. Split Spades, Guardian, Centurion, Stinger, and Propagands are not special edition decks. They are signature decks. There have been at least two editions of the Split Spades. Second editions of Stingers and Propogandas are both in the works right now. That is not to say that the 1st editions won't raise in value on the secondary market, but for someone looking for performance decks I'm sure future editions will handle quite similar to the originals. Their may be sleight differences in look and performance due to the fact that there is often slight performance differences from one run to the next but Stingers will still be on Aristocrat stock and Propagandas will still likely be on Tally-Ho stock.