Chris Reesman's father passed away during the week of March 31, 2003 (my birthday), after I wrote much of what's
below. So despite what follows I *do* feel for his loss and am praying for him. That said, three months later
and the clownie hasn't made good on any of what you're about to read:
Ever since I first re-found Mike Brazill in early 2001, he's pretty much been dying to sue
Chris Reesman because Reesman claimed to own the rights to the Rings
'n Things name, was putting out inferior copies of the RnT Don Alan Chop Cup (as well as planning on releasing
other RnT items) and basically was saying that he owns the rights to RnT's products.
As an old RnT demo guy who now collects RnT items, other chop cups and cups and balls, I was immediately
interested in this saga.
See the pix on Chris's "Photos" pages and you'll see essentially what you'll see on MY page:
shots of magicians roped into having a photo taken with him at one convention or another, then using them to
prove that he's "connected."
Difference being that I'M NOT SELLING ANYTHING OR PRETENDING THAT I HAVE RIGHTS TO SOMETHING I DON'T.
Here's what Reesman claims on his site (under "About Us"):
"Chris has taken his magic career a step further by producing a line of quality illusions used by top
magic professionals.
"In 1995 Chris purchased the former Rings 'N' Things product line forms and manufacturing rights.
"In 1996 Mike Brazill & Sandy Byrne (the founders of Rings 'N' Things) in a cermony [sic] passed the wand to
Chris at the Las Vegas Close-Up convention. Chris also purchased the Chicago Magic Co. that consisted
of the Sam Berland, Segdhill Ind., Don Boss (Caddy Mfg.) Product lines and tooling."
Couple of things here: Michael and Sandy *did* pass the so-called wand to Reesman in Vegas, but that
was when they were both under the impression that Chris had paid Summers' widow. And while I can't comment on
the Chicago Magic products, as for RnT, the facts are these: Reesman owns NOTHING. Not to mention that
he didn't even get the line of rights correct: Sandy wasn't a co-founder; she became a partner later on.
Mike hired Sandy as RnT's bookkeeper early on, and eventually she became a full partner. I've been in
fairly constant contact with Sandy ever since I found Mike.
When I say that these are facts, they've been confirmed by everyone ever involved with Rings 'n Things.
RnT was sold to the late Kenny Summers (remember K. Summers' Magic?) in 1980 or so for $5,000. This
included all stock, plans (blueprints), chucks, springs, jigs etc.: everything used to make the beautiful
RnT products from 1970-80. But Brazill and Sandy Byrne (the last people to own RnT before the sale)
NEVER SOLD THE RnT NAME AS PART OF THE DEAL. That was to remain their own "intellectual property."
Chris obtained the whole kit and kaboodle (again, except for the RnT name, which Reesman used for two years) in
1995 from Summers for $2,500, BUT HIS CHECK BOUNCED. When Kenny called him, Reesman said that he'd tear up the
check if Ken returned it to him and that he would send another "good" check.
IT NEVER HAPPENED. Chris claims that he thought the second check was cashed, but the fact is that no one ever
RECEIVED it (i.e. it couldn't have been cashed). Also, one might notice a surplus of $2,500 in one's bank
account. I know I would.
As of 4/5/03, per an email he sent Richard Kaufman, Chris said that he'd be happy to make good on the
payment or return the chucks. Michael & Sandy were hoping for the latter, but goober-boy hasn't made a move
to settle this -- well -- unsettling situation.
To me, the comical thing is that John Mendoza likely would have eagerly paid the meager $2,500 just
for the chucks back then. Surely they're worth at least 10 to 20 times that now.
So Chris NEVER PAID FOR ANYTHING and, thus, can't legally sell anything made with those chucks (or any other RnT
jigs) until he produces a "PAID IN FULL" receipt, which he can't.
Further, Chris has been claiming that per the agreement with Summers' widow he was allowed to use the Rings 'n
Things name for two years. As I said, both Mike and Sandy never sold the name.
In reality, it's Ken Summers' widow who is losing out here -- now THAT's absurd (although in fairness, Ken never
paid Michael or Sandy *either* but as Ken was in failing health at the time they never pursued it). This was
also because Summers never actually produced any so-called RnT items.
I actually bought one of Reesman's alleged Don Alan copper chops ($95) in 2002 because I was told that it
was the original. It was packed in a box which said "RnT Don Alan Copper" (dispelling Reesman's myth that
he never used the RnT name). I took it home and compared it to my "real" RnT copper cup and, while the dimensions
and "ridges" are close, the RnT original is much cleaner -- the ridges being nearly razor-sharp. In contrast,
Chris's are rounded. I don't know how to explain this better, but the cups really have no comparison. In fairness,
the original is worth $250 or more. But Reesman's is worth far less than the $95 I paid for it.
A certain magician friend of mine from way back (initials: P.G.) ALSO bought one of Chris' chop cups and had to
return it immediately because the magnet rattled. Talk about quality manufacturing!
Meanwhile, magicians from all over the world were calling Brazill and Byrne -- asking why these new RnT items
they'd bought from Reesman were so terribly made. At that time, Sandy and Mike sent several snail-mail letters to
Reesman telling him basically to cease and desist. The letters went unanswered so they followed up with phone calls
which also were ignored. Again, this dispells Chris' claim that he was unaware that his check never cleared.
For the prices Reesman's charging I'd actually recommend Steve "Ickle Pickle" Bender's cups. And that's saying
something, as I'm as far from a fickle pickle fan as you're likely to find...
I initially told Mike to ignore Reesman, as no one is paying attention (and Mike only owns the rights to the
RnT name at this point), but after I received an email from a fellow chop cup/RnT collector friend of mine
recommending Chris' stuff (not knowing the story, and who Reesman used as one of his "friends" pix on his site
-- the guy has met Reesman ONCE) I decided it was time to fill the magic world in on this clownie.
One of the original RnT people suggested sending the County Sheriffs in to Chris' shop to seize anything having
to do with the trademarked RnT items (Don Alan Chop Cup, Monti Cups etc.)... because Reesman's NOW planning on
manufacturing RnT's Monti Cups, just because he received Harry "Monti" Monteith's blessing.
Guess what? Harry doesn't own the rights EITHER! Although he designed the cups, the chucks for those still
belong to Summers' widow. And Monti is now more than surprised that he's been duped by Reesman.
Bottom line: Chris Reesman has been telling friends of mine that he owns the rights, has been putting out terribly
inferior products (because his spinners aren't of the caliber of, say, Tim Star) and essentially should be
considered to be the thief that he is.
Worse: the $2,500 he was supposed to pay for the original RnT items, especially the chucks, would likely be worth
$50,000 today.
The fun news is that Chris just made his way into "The RnT Book" which Michael, Sandy and I are writing
with Ron Bauer (likely due out in late 2004), which will be patterned after the P&L Book but will have
stories about how some of the RnT items were invented/created, how the company began, its untoward end,
and those who have ripped them off since RnT's demise. Are you still with me, Reesman? Cool!
For the record, I should mention that Chris might be a nice guy (as I've never met him -- nor do I plan to, and
at this point who cares), but dude? Don't f%ck with my friends.
No image on this page may be used without the express written consent of
me. If you'd like to add any of these
photos to your site, or publish any of them, please click just below the vanishing letter above and tell me
why...
Gary Michaels' Quasi~Cynical Magi & The Craft Grotto
