Cool Old Otis Deals

That's right...it's no joke that several customers have stated they got an immediate nut upon handling these copper coins.  No cause for concern, the stains are easily removed...or used as an artificial patina. 

I have 3 sets with these heavy smooth okito boxes, (but I just started thinking that one of these sets may be the start of MY new collection :).  The box fits 4 coins perfectly.  It does not accomodate the included shell.  All the coins have fresh hand-milled edges.  I also have 3 addtional sets sans okito box.  These sets are 4 coins and shell.  The ungimmicked coins are the exact size of a silver dollar, the shell and box will fit uncirculated silver dollars. 

4 of these coins and a shell just about stuffs one of these JOL purses to the max, but it closes fine and i think will it break in nicely so I'm going to include one with each set of coins. This is the last of my roughed out BRONZE okito box stock, so there probably won't be any of these for a while.  They are made of an expensive free machining bronze.  The copper coins have been toned and highlighted and provide a decent contrast to almost anything. 

Okito/Coins/Purse.........$335

Miracle Enjoyment Remilled Shell Sets w/ Happy Ending and purse....$240

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/on-the-trail-with-gonzos-wife/

Just read this about Hunter's wife.  I once went to a press conference to see the man after he was arrested for pinching the tit of a prostitute (long story) and authorities barged in without warrant and searched his house finding some powder inside of a bic pen.  He was drinking and smoking heavily, just as you would expect, and he was flanked by his lawyers on both sides.  He set up microphones in each isle so you could step up and ask him a question.  It was amazingly fun and funny.  He later won his court battle. 

On a not so light note, I posted here that my good friend died right before we left on vacation.  Upon arrival in Colorado, I received news that one of my very best friends out there had died of cancer just prior and no one had contacted me.  Upon arrival back home, my house was vandalized and amongst other things...my entire personal collection of coin gaffs was stolen.  That was nearly 10 years of gaffs that I had made for myself...including many coins that I cannot replace.  I had one collection of gaffs made with special expensive copper coins that Steve Forte had given me and many silver crowns that are very hard to find.  Imagine what the entire collection might have brought on ebay.  That was something I was hoping to pass on to my kids...and I doubt the insurance is going to pay for any of that since there were no riders, etc.  On the bright side, they did not enter the shop area. 

Hey, check out Magilla Gorilla sitting in front of Bush.  He has all the cool friends.  His "base" man. 

1)  There may be some of you who don't know what Don England does for his day job.  Don is an artist and an old school neon sign maker.  He's probably in a class of maybe a dozen ..or less..guys nationwide that can bang stuff out the way Don does.  This is an art that requires great planning ahead 6 or 8 letters as you bend a single piece of glass... many years of experience, working with ultra high voltage, gas, mercury, and torches..doing extremely tedious work.  Anyway, Don made me a sign.  6 different colors of neon.  It adds real ambiance to the shop when we turn it on.  I have to go big now and start another Johnson's or something so I can hang the sign out.

2)  Someone, and I don't know who, snapped this pic today...spies in the shop...I noticed it when I was downloading these other pics from the camera.  Anyway, my last day of pounding for a week or so.  I'm gettin' out of Dodge for a bit. 

3)  Reels will be shipping upon my return.

4)  And finally, the second batch of 17 UWCs is finished...at wast.  I will be shipping most of these in the morning before I leave town. There was/is.. just so many finessy little things on these sets.  It seemed like I worked on these sets for months.....and I did.  Good riddance, it's a crappy trick anyway.  You guys that get the next batch after this one will probably be dissappointed.  I recommend cancelling your order.

I'm about a month behind on emails.  I am still planning on catching up with those so don't give up.  Guys that have been communicating with me recently know that I am trying to change the way I do things a bit, running most everything in small production runs, taking credit card numbers and charging the card as I complete the items...as opposed to accepting huge orders and trying to finish 12 different items before shipping the entire order.  Those really hold up the show, so I think this is efficient for me to make small batches of everything, and it's more fair to everyone.  If you wait 3 months to get an expanded shell set, 6 weeks of that may have just been waiting for me to finish a couple of huge orders for 1or 2 or 3 individuals.  This will spread it around more and speed up the show in the process. 

I should return in 8 or 10 days or so.  We have a couple destinations penciled in, but I'm guessing we could end up anywhere.  Ha. 

Well, I was just about to put up some light hearted fun with Joe Dobson and my phone rings this morning.  My very best friend Randy Malcolm died yesterday while diving in Florida.  His daughter called me and I am just devasted.  We had just gone together to see Tom Waits a few weeks ago.  I'll write something at a later time.  I know alot of people that are going to seriously share in my grief.  RIP Randog, you lived life to the fullest. 

These are silver quarter shells.  Hard to explain, but to keep the shells looking very nice on the face, I expand the minimal amount.  If you think about it..you have to expand a quarter just as much as you would a dollar to get the correct rim thickness.  On a much smaller diameter, it is alot more noticeable.  Due to the nature of the coin, when I make the shell I lose about 1/6 thickness in some low areas of the edge.  I'd say right about on par with sasco for coverage.  Ha. There is a small area on the edge of each shell where it only covers about half the coin.  I can get the full thickness of the shell if I expand the shell a wee bit more, but the tradeoff isn't worth it.  I say that because..unlike sasco, I don't think anyone could spot the nested coin under the shell, it's about impossible to see with these small coins, even at a narrow viewing angle. 

I have 4 heads and one tail...but hey, we all have issues.  Sorry, had to say that.   These silver quarters usually run just about .001 inch larger in diamter than the newer quarters...basically the same size.  The shells have been made to fit silver quarters, but ordinary quarters will fit the shell fine if you wanted to do something with borrowed quarters. 

Monday night (in california) special....$37.50 each. 

OK, IT'S RAF, ED ANDRES, PATRICK, BRETT, AND EDDIE ARTHUR. 

I'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU JASON WHEN YOU SHOW UP.

This is a prototype that solves what I feel is the biggest discrepancy with these larger dollar size sets.  The c/s insert coin has the full edge being copper.  The coins are mitered together for a precise join at the face area (pic 1)...a big pain, but it really makes a difference.  This set is made with an unusual copper coin.  I only ran across about half a dozen of these...ever, and I had saved them for a very long time. 

Set comes with authentic 400 year old Chinese switch in coin and smooth JOL purse.  $250 for the proto.  I'm probably going to charge more for this variety, building them this way takes a considerable amount of extra time. 

Just Kidding.